Completely inspired by all things Scottish this week - thank you, Rabbie Burns!
Alexander McQueen once said:
'The reason I’m patriotic about Scotland is because I think it’s been dealt a really hard hand. It’s marketed the world over as...haggis...bagpipes. But no one ever puts anything back into it.'
I, for one, enjoy the haggis and bagpipes Scotland however, coming from someone who wasn't a true Scotsman in the most literal sense of the word, I appreciate the sentiment. Known to fight Scotland's corner (and dressed for the occasion, too!), one of his first collections entitled Highland Rape was an undeniably explicit dig at the English for the part they played in the Highland Clearances. People were shocked in 1995 and when I look back on it now, over 16 years later, I still think it's one of, if not his most controversial shows. Check this out:
I love it. Strangely serene.
A few years later, and by this point a huge household name, he bookended the Scottish story with the more triumphant Widows of Culloden. Thankfully, no scary eyes or ravaged women in this one - how terrified would you have been of the Highland Rape models? Anyway. It is so hard to pick a favourite piece - like choosing a favourite child, I'd say. I'd probably go for this one though:
When I watch the video of when it first came down the runway I'm nothing short of amazed. The movement in it alone is unbelievable - look: Widows of Culloden show. Love the natural colours of the pheasant feathers but I can imagine this in all sorts of crazy colours in my head. I'd love to see it done in simple black duck feathers like The Horn of Plenty dress. Although I'm probably best not to think about how they manage to collect that many bird feathers. So I'll move on.
The best thing about being Scottish? Being able to say I'm Scottish! There are only about 5,222,100 people who can say that, and wha's like us?
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