Inferno

London 1996: Alexander McQueen took over the Hawksmoor masterpiece Christ Church in London’s East End for what was quite possibly the greatest fashion show on Earth. A candle-lit, cruciform catwalk with a backdrop of stained-glass windows set the tone for an extraordinary collection. Lace sat against chiffon and rubbed shoulders with couture and club-culture clothing and digital print. Dante was the seminal collection that would resonate throughout Alexander McQueen’s career.

This book features unique photographs shot behind the scenes, with raw, unseen pictures of the designer, models and clothes. The fashion creatives who worked with McQueen to make the show such a success recall this pivotal time in the designer’s career and reflect on what made Dante truly groundbreaking. Newly created imagery of clothes shown on the catwalk gives an insight into why this collection was so special.

About the Author

Kent Baker lives and works between London and New York. He was championed by Terry Jones, creative director and founder of i-D magazine, jump starting collaborations with British Vogue, 10 Magazine and Russian Vogue . Melanie Rickey is a writer, editor and consultant who has covered fashion since 1996. She currently writes for the Guardian and Grazia, and shares her expert view and fashion knowledge on her Fashion Editor at Large website.