“When I’m dead and gone, people will know that the 21st century was started by Alexander McQueen“—no truer words were said by the late designer. In many ways, the legacy of Lee Alexander McQueen is one that still shapes the world to this very day, as his desire to push the boundaries of our imaginations has cemented him into our collective memory. McQueen hailed from the bustling streets of London, where he began working as a tailor at the humble age of 16 before enrolling in Central Saint Martins. After graduating, he founded his eponymous label in 1992, which quickly caught the attention of fashion insiders because of his avant-garde approach to womenswear.
Unlike other designers at the time, McQueen didn’t shy away from drama—his collections often featured highly technical craftsmanship paired with darkly romantic aesthetics and theatrical runway shows. Although there was a great deal of attention surrounding the designer’s rule-breaking ready-to-wear pieces (rightfully so), the brand’s accessories were and continue to be just as noteworthy. Under the direction of McQueen, followed by his successor Sarah Burton, we’ve seen the luxury house turn out some of the most coveted handbags of the century. It might be easy to assume that the buzz surrounding the house’s bags concerns its popularity among stars like Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, but that’s far from the truth.
Alexander McQueen’s bags have continued to accrue value over time, making them the perfect item to invest in for the long haul. There’s no telling what buzzy new bags will come out of the house following the recent appointment of Creative Director Seán McGirr, but there are a few iconic styles that remain solid investments. In an effort to identify them, we decided to reach out to a luxury-resale expert to have them give us the full rundown. Luckily for us, Landyn Tedrick, site merchandising specialist at Fashionphile, obliged. Ahead, Tedrick is discussing her career and what to know when shopping for a designer purse and, of course, sharing a compact list of the seven best Alexander McQueen bags. Trust us when we say these purses will captivate the collective imagination for centuries to come.
