Fashion world gathers to celebrate Alexander McQueen

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12 April 2012

Hundreds of leading figures from the world of fashion gathered in St Paul's Cathedral today for a ceremony in memory of Alexander McQueen.

Vogue editor Anna Wintour led the tributes to the London-born designer, who died in February aged 40.

Models Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, actress Sarah Jessica Parker, muse Daphne Guinness and designer Stella McCartney were among the congregation, which also included relatives and former colleagues of McQueen,

Wintour paid a moving tribute to the designer. After removing her sunglasses, something she rarely does in public, she said: "He was a complex and gifted young man who, as a child, liked nothing more than watching the birds from the roof of his east London tower block.

"He had an 18-year-long career of pioneering his dreams and dramas. He cared what people thought of his clothes but not of him. He never appeared at ease with himself and hated to travel away from his beloved London."

His close friend the fashion writer Suzy Menkes described him as "an artist who just happened to work with clothes".

The ceremony began with a Bible reading from the designer's nephew Mark. There were also performances from composer and pianist Michael Nyman and the London Community Gospel Choir.

Gallery: Fashion stars at Alexander McQueen memorial

Björk sang the haunting hymn Gloomy Sunday, which reflects on the horrors of modern culture, and there were also addresses from jeweller Shaun Leane, model Annabelle Neilson, McQueen's nephew Gary Hulyer and milliner Philip Treacy.

Guests said McQueen was "missed enormously" and emphasised the importance of maintaining the integrity of his fashion label.

Former fashion director Anna Harvey said: "We're going to miss him hugely, he was a massive talent. It's very important to the Gucci Group [which part-owns the McQueen label] to keep his memory alive and I think we all trust them to carry his talent forward in a sensitive way."

His former teacher Bobby Hillson said: "He was my student at St Martin's so I felt it essential to come.

"He's missed enormously, he was certainly a rare talent." Former employee Jennifer Jin, 32, said: "McQueen's actually a star. He's a genius, it's such a loss."

The designer, a taxi driver's son, grew up in the East End.

He was British designer of the year four times between 1996 and 2003, was awarded the CBE and was named International Designer of the Year at the Council of Fashion Designers. His death came a week before the start of London Fashion Week in February.

The designer, who had a long history of depression and insomnia, took his own life after becoming overwhelmed by grief at the death of his mother Joyce.

Gallery: Fashion stars at Alexander McQueen memorial

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