McQueen Opens Its First Menswear Store on Saville Row

Alexander McQueen Saville Row

Alexander McQueen Saville Row

The Alexander McQueen empire keeps growing. With the opening of the London McQ flagship this past autumn, the brand extended its footprint on its home turf, but with the opening of the brand’s very first menswear-only boutique, McQueen is firmly cemented in London’s shopping foundation and has completed the shopping landscape with something on offer for everyone looking to get a piece of McQueen.

Alexander McQueen Saville Row

Alexander McQueen Saville Row

London has been home to a McQueen store for over a decade now, but its main focus was on womenswear. And though the new McQ store has menswear on offer, it leans more casual than the crisp, British tailoring that the McQueen brand is known for showing on the runway during Pitti Uomo in Milan. With the new Saville Row shop, that has all changed. The store is fully stocked with tailored pieces that reflect the sartorial traditions of the storied street.

“This new menswear store is like a homecoming for Alexander McQueen, since Lee himself was an apprentice on Savile Row, and tailoring has always been the backbone of the label,” said Sarah Burton, Creative Director of Alexander McQueen. “I’m excited to be able to offer Alexander McQueen menswear in our new environment that is steeped in the codes of the house.”

Alexander McQueen Saville Row

Alexander McQueen Saville Row

Designed by Burton in collaboration with David Collins Studio (who also designed the McQueen women’s boutique), the men’s store offers the largest selection of McQueen mens’ ready-to-wear and accessories in the world.

Shoppers enter through a stoic facade, but once inside, they’re greeted by all the McQueen house signatures. The floor is made from crushed and re-formed marble in the first room, which houses featured items and a few accessories in custom-made display cases. The next room is meant to resemble a military parade, with each jacket lined up above a red carpet. Look closer though, the rack that they’re hanging from is carved to look like a human spine — McQueen himself was fascinated by anatomy and the macabre. The walls might look like prim plaster from the Victorian era, but when you look closer, you’ll see that motifs such as birds’ wings, skulls and more are hiding within the design. The same goes for the cabinets and display cases: what look like ordinary fixtures are actually finished with claw-shaped feet and twisted horn-inspired handles. The store hopes to expand its offerings from ready-to-wear to include made to measure and bespoke services as well, which will be run out of the store’s lower level.

Alexander McQueen Saville Row

Alexander McQueen Saville Row

Another highlight of the store is a huge glass box, which will be curated by Sadie Coles and be home to  rotating art pieces. The first sculpture is ICON by Sarah Lucas, a 2006 work from Lucas’ Bunny series. The sculpture portrays Michael Clark, a British dancer.

In addition to opening the menswear flagship, the McQueen menswear label will also begin showing during the London Collections: Men beginning in January 2013, giving the brand even more hometown glory.

Alexander McQueen is located at 9 Saville Row, in London.

Photos courtesy Alexander McQueen

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Author:Christopher Luu for Fashion Trends Daily

Christopher Luu is a Fashion Trends Daily Senior Writer and Menswear Editor.