"After a month long trip to India, Alexander McQueen worked like a fiend for months in his studio, with images of Queen Victoria, the Duke of Wellington, and the Indian Empire running through his mind. He then handed his audience, for Fall 2008 Ready To Wear, a self-imagined fantasy of crinolined princesses and British-colonial romance of such beauty, it arguably surpassed anything he had achieved in 14 years" says Style.com and I simply can not say it any better :)

Sari silks had feathered chiffon fountains bursting from beneath them and colonial velvets and ermine coats were richness personified. McQueen managed to whip up the most covetable of the British and Indian couture details and stir them into an incredible fantasy by way of his highly skilled tailoring techniques. 

My favourite dress had a pair of peacocks (our national bird), fashioned from cutout black lace, with their tail feathers fanning out over ivory tulle petticoats. The details were exquisite, on everything from mojaries (shoes) to regal palace jewellery befitting of an Indian Maharani. 

I love to think all this post-colonial inspiration cultivated was from a period exactly 63 years ago, during our struggle for independence. To think we inspired this genius in any way just makes me so proud! And with this post, as tribute to our Independence and McQueen, ends the Spotlight on India Independence Week! :)