FASHION FILES: ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

Could it be true that Alexander McQueen be the new face of the 20 bill in the UK? 

This legendary English Fashion Designer, raised in the East End of London was considered by the Bank of England to be a part of the group of visual artists with a great historical significance in order to take place of pride on its new £20 note. 

The UK has had very talented individuals in the Visual Arts field whose work have challenged British artistic perspective all around the world. Especially when it comes to leadership, innovation, and social interaction among society.

So, what would be the one unique single thing everyone would love to see come out of an ATM? Why not see your favorite fashion designer?! It would definitely be a fashion upgrade in your wallet.                   

                                                                           

Dresses from Alexander McQueen pertaining to different collections from 2011-2013

McQueen making dress alterations

McQueen didn’t have the perfect childhood. While he was growing up, he did challenge himself and endured hardship. All of this helped in shaping him into the fashion icon that he is today. 

He was brave, sure, enthusiastic, self-exposed, unique… He was and is a legend...

“McQueen was an uncompromising pioneer in design; because his clothes were engineered with a precision and invention that put his contemporaries to shame; because he led a French haute couture house to international critical acclaim and commercial success.” 

said Alexander Fury, The Independent’s Fashion Editor. 

A selection of gowns designed by Alexander McQueen worn by (far left) Naomi Campbell, Taylor Swift at the Met Costume Gala in 2011, Jennifer Lopez, Kate Middleton's wedding dress in 2011 and First Lady Michelle Obama in Flame Red" at a formal dinner at the White House in 2011.

McQueen is one of the most respected designers in the world. His resumé includes working as Chief Designer for the French Haute Couture House Givenchy and taking the title as Creative Director for the Gucci Group. With awards such as International Designer of the Year by The Council of Fashion Designers of America, 4 British Designer of the Year awards and let's not forget a Most Excellent Commander of The British Empire (CBE) by the Queen herself in 2003; we would say that McQueen seems like a prime candidate to be featured on one of the strongest currencies in the world. 

With such a #CertifiedCOOL icon imprinted on the new bills I wonder if people would even spend the haute notes or covet them as priceless keepsakes. 

By: McKenna Martinez Crozier

Click for more Cool here:

FASHION FILES : 2012 OLYMPICS UNIFORMS SPECIAL

Continuing our Countdown to the 2012 Olympic Games features, we bring you some of the COOLest uniforms of the games.

The UK team uniforms are designed by Adidas and Stella McCartney and will be worn across 46 sports. Stella recalls her experience, “I’ve been talking to athletes for two years,” she said. “I wanted to ask what matters to them—whether it might psychologically improve their performance to look good, what I needed to do to work around the rules and regulations of each discipline, and all their technical requirements. Some told me, yeah, if I look better it helps. Others said, I don’t care how I look as long as I can shave off a second." Keeping with the 2012 London Games theme of sustainability, the designer used recycled synthetics to create all of the apparel.

Team USA's Olympics kit is designed by Ralph Lauren and Nike. Track and field athletes will wear uniforms that Nike says could shave up to 0.023 seconds off 100-meter sprint times — a difference that could have elevated Walter Dix from bronze to the silver medal at the Beijing Olympics.

The Associated Press reported controversy about the team's opening ceremony uniforms by Ralph Lauren. "Republicans and Democrats railed about the U.S. Olympic Committee's decision to dress the U.S. team in Chinese manufactured berets, blazers and pants while the American textile industry struggles economically with many U.S. workers desperate for jobs" (Source: AP via ESPN online). The Olympics Committee disagreed with the criticism stating, "We're proud of our partnership with Ralph Lauren, an iconic American company, and excited to watch America's finest athletes compete at the upcoming Games in London." Any way you look at it, the designs are COOL.


Image sources:
http://trackfocus.com/usatfpro/nike-unveils-2012-us-track-field-uniforms/attachment/ldn12_rn_pr_doliver_131_mr_large
http://www.thesportsfanjournal.com/columns/ed-the-sports-fan/nike-basketball-reveals-team-usa-uniforms-for-the-2012-london-olympics/
http://inside.nike.com/blogs/nikesoccer/2012/04/16/two-teams-one-jersey
Associated Press


The Olympics kit for the Italian athletes is designed by Emporio Armani. The brand released several beautiful videos showcasing the designs with striking imagery. Among our favorite details of the uniforms is the inclusion of the words to the Italian national anthem featured on the inside of the jackets.

And finally, always a personal Olympics fashion fave of ours are the Netherlands opening ceremony attire. Expertly styled, the uniforms are probably the most wearable ensembles of the games. The Dutch are generally known for their COOL and modern design aesthetic so it's no surprise that their uniforms reflect that.

See more COOL features on our blog THAT'S COOL. Just click and scroll down.  

FASHION FILE : TOPSHOP UNIQUE SS12

The urban goddess emerged at S12 London Fashion Week and now you can shop the collection at TopShop. I love the graphic prints and my mental color wheel is doing the running man over the combination of black and white with pops of gold. Definitely been one of my personal fave styling color combos and I do rock it maybe a little too often. The collection is inspired by the opulence of an Egyptian goddess pop-locked with 90s NYC Hip-Hop swag.

Some of my faves from the retail level selections are the All Seeing Crop Top, Patent Bumbag, Hieroglyph Piped Halter Dress, All Seeing Bikini and Maxi, and of course the Cleopatra Sweat Dress. One thing I have noted... (I'm not hatin') some the prints are very Keith Haring... just saying. The Unique SS12 Collection still gets props. Cleopatra & NYC circa 1990s... that's cool!