Born in the East End of London, the son of a taxi driver, Alexander started running up dresses for his three sisters at a young age and announced his intention of becoming a op costume designer, although his parents would've prefered him to find himself a more usual job. McQueen went on to leave school at 16, finding himself an apprenticeship job with top Savile Row tailors Anderson and Shepherd, then working for Gieves and Hawkes and the famous theatrical costumiers Angels and Bermans.

While on Savile Row, McQueen's clients included Mikhail Gorbachev and Charles, Prince of Wales. Rumor has it that McQueen is known to have graffitied four-letter words into the lining of the Prince's Savile Row jackets.

When he was 20, McQueen went on to work for Koji Tatsuno and Romeo Gigli. McQueen then applied to London's most prestigious fashion school, Central St Martins College of Art & Design for a Masters Degree, graduating from there in 1991, before opening his own studio in East London in 1992.

McQueen soon developed a reputation for extravagant controversy and shock tactics earning him the title of "the hooligan of English fashion". With trousers conveniently named 'bumsters' and collections with titles such as "Highland Rape", his outrageous designs attracted a small but loyal clientele, including such influential fashion figures as stylist Isabella Blow, who bought everything from his first collection.

The president of LVMH, Bernard Arnault sent shock waves when he instated British Bad Boy Alexander McQueen as the head designer at Givenchy in 1996, succeeding John Galliano. McQueen brought his style down a little at Givenchy, but continued to let his rebellious streak run. The designer caused a huge stir in the fall of '98 with a show which included car-robots spraying paint over white cotton dresses and a disabled model striding down the catwalk on intricately carved wooden legs. McQueen stayed with Givenchy until March of 2001. Some of Alexander McQueen's great accomplishments include being one of the youngest designers to obtain the title of 'British Designer of the Year' in 1996, 1997 and again in 2001.

Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, McQueen was named International Designer of the Year at the Council of Fashion Designer Awards. The year od December 2000 saw a new partnership for McQueen with the Gucci Group acquiring 51% of the company with Alexander serving as its Creative Director. Plans for this expansion include the opening of stores worldwide and his perfume, entitled 'Kingdom'.

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