McQueen came from what could be described as a very normal and modest background. He grew up in a council house in East London and his father was a black cab driver. McQueen had always maintained a love of fashion and by the age of sixteen, he decided that he wanted to pursue a career in the fashion industry and dropped out of school to set about achieving his ambition.

McQueen took an apprenticeship at the Savile Row tailors Anderson and Shepherd where he learnt to refine and perfect his technical and tailoring skills. This experience proved extremely valuable as it was for these factors that ultimately made him so famous and acclaimed as a fashion designer. Wanting to gain as much hands-on experience as possible McQueen then become an apprentice at Gieves and Hawkes and progressed to costumiers Angels and Bermans. The variety of his apprenticeships gave him the opportunity to master many different tailoring techniques.

McQueen then worked alongside Japanese designer Koji Tatsuno and when he was 21, moved to Milan to work with highly renowned designer Romeo Gigli. McQueen then decided to complete a Masters degree in Fashion Design at the Central St. Martins College. When he first had the idea of pursuing a career in fashion, his original ambition was to become a pattern cutter, but his college collection combined with the experience of his apprenticeships meant that he was far more skilled as a designer than he ever had imagined. McQueen consequently received much favourable media attention and was described as a promising young fashion designer and the one to watch in the fashion industry.

This positive reaction provided McQueen with the impetus he needed to launch his own label. A creative thinker and a lover of entertainment, McQueen made his shows incredibly bold and theatrical, which combined with his distinctive, contemporary and ultra sharp style, made them stand out among other emerging designers. McQueen also used his vibrant personality and character to his advantage and formed quite the reputation for himself; creating a bad boy image that was reflective of the attitude of his collections. Now the full package, McQueen and his label were making a huge impact on the style scene in London and his credibility only continued to increase.

In 1997 McQueen was employed by couture house Givenchy and was quick to express his negative opinion label’s founder, Hubert de Givenchy, labeling him ‘irrelevant’. Though this did lead to his first line at Givenchy being unsuccessful, in 2000 Gucci purchased a controlling interest in the McQueen line. This then ended McQueen’s relationship with Givenchy and allowed him to focus on his own label where he could be as creative and outrageous as he wished. The move proved to be a positive one and lead to the brand becoming even more prominent and successful.

In 2003 McQueen was presented with the International Award by The Council of Fashion Designers of America and also received a CBE. He also won the British Designer of the Year Award in 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2003.

By 2007 he had opened boutiques all around the world including Las Vegas, New York and Milan. A huge number of A list celebrities and style icons have been seen wearing his creations on the red carpet including Sarah Jessica Parker and Nicole Kidman, and other celebrity fans include Lady Gaga and Victoria Beckham. McQueen was a huge personality on the celebrity circuit and was adored by many.

McQueen also become famous for his signature skull emblem, which features on Alexander McQueen scarves, jewellery, sunglasses and other accessories. All pieces featuring the McQueen skull are incredibly sought after and a celebrity favourite.

Sadly, McQueen passed away in February 2010 in his Mayfair London home. The designer and personality will always be remembered and celebrated for his statement, expressive and often outrageous approach towards fashion, his incredible tailoring and outstanding talent.

The collection of Alexander McQueen sunglasses are a perfect expression of the designer’s imagination, creativity and his love of pieces that boast luxurious style. McQueen was renowned for being an expressionist and often combined unusual materials teamed with fine craftsmanship to really create a unique and dramatic impact. The collection of Alexander McQueen sunglasses are certainly reflective of this, with each pair also featuring the iconic skull emblem either on the temple or positioned on the arm. Alexander McQueen sunglasses are highly distinctive; fusing bold, exquisite colours and textures and designed in statement and ultra glamorous oversized shapes with fine attention to detail including elaborately finished and uniquely shaped arms and thick frames. Sleek oversized aviators and butterfly inspired shapes also feature within the collection, conveying McQueen’s flair for statement style and his love of unusual, romantic twists.

Alexander McQueen sunglasses are a huge hit among the style icons and celebrities. Catherine Zeta Jones has been spotted wearing a pair, whilst Cheryl Cole also sported a pair when filming the X Factor auditions. Lady Gaga who is renowned for her distinctive approach to fashion is also a huge fan of Alexander McQueen’s work and premiered her video ‘Bad Romance’ at the showing of his spring/summer 2010 collection at Paris Fashion Week.

Each pair of Alexander McQueen sunglasses are beautifully dynamic in terms of style variety, colour, depth and inspiration. The collection incorporates creative contrasts and boasts expert craftsmanship; a design skill that McQueen became truly famous for.

Ultimately, the Alexander McQueen sunglasses collection depicts the essence of high fashion in true McQueen style.