Lee Alexander McQueen was born in Lewisham, London, on 17 March 1969 and died in London on 11 February 2010, aged 40. He died by suicide, nine days after the death of his mother, Joyce. In under two decades he built one of the most influential fashion houses of his generation, and the house he founded in 1992, Alexander McQueen, still designs under his name.
If you are struggling, you do not have to face it alone. In the UK you can call Samaritans on 116 123, and in the US you can call 988, which also takes text messages.
A timeline of his life
- 1969: born in Lewisham, the youngest of six children of a taxi driver and a teacher.
- Late 1980s: apprentices on Savile Row at Anderson & Sheppard, then Gieves & Hawkes, learning the tailoring that runs through every collection since.
- 1992: completes his MA at Central Saint Martins; the stylist Isabella Blow buys his graduate collection, and he founds his label.
- 1995: the Highland Rape show makes his name.
- 1996 to 2001: chief designer at Givenchy in Paris while running his own house.
- 2000: the Gucci Group, now Kering, takes a 51% stake in Alexander McQueen.
- 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2003: named British Designer of the Year four times; appointed CBE in 2003.
- 2009: shows Plato’s Atlantis, his last completed collection.
- 11 February 2010: dies in London, aged 40.
The work he left
McQueen’s legacy is a set of codes the house still cuts: the bumster trouser, the sharp Savile Row shoulder, the corset worn as outerwear, and the skull. The great runway shows made those ideas famous, and the Savage Beauty retrospectives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2011 and the V&A in 2015 drew more than a million visitors between them.
His estate also funds the Sarabande Foundation, named after his Spring Summer 2007 collection, which has given scholarships to young designers and artists since 2012 and runs subsidised studios from converted stables in Haggerston, East London, since 2015.
The house continued under Sarah Burton, his right hand since 1996, and since 2023 under Seán McGirr. Read the Sarah Burton years, his time at Givenchy and who Alexander McQueen is as a house today.
Frequently asked questions
When did Alexander McQueen die?
Lee Alexander McQueen died in London on 11 February 2010, aged 40.
How did Alexander McQueen die?
He died by suicide, nine days after the death of his mother, Joyce. If you are struggling, call Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK, and 988 in the US, which also takes text messages.
How old was Alexander McQueen when he died?
He was 40. He was born on 17 March 1969 and died on 11 February 2010.
What was Alexander McQueen’s real name?
Lee Alexander McQueen. He was known as Lee to friends and family and used his middle name for the label.
Who runs Alexander McQueen now?
Seán McGirr has been creative director since October 2023. Sarah Burton led the house from 2010 to 2023. The company has been part of Kering since 2000.
What is the Sarabande Foundation?
The Sarabande Foundation is the charity funded by Lee Alexander McQueen’s estate and named after his Spring Summer 2007 collection. It has given scholarships since 2012 and runs subsidised studios for young designers and artists in East London.
What awards did Alexander McQueen win?
He was named British Designer of the Year four times, in 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2003, and was appointed CBE in 2003.
Explore the house on the Alexander McQueen page.
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