"Master of the fantastic" certainly  among my favorites, British designer Alexander McQueen died last week at his London home.

Together with a short biography and without adding many words I 've preferred  to pay my personal tribute through  a selection of pictures that in my opinion represent the evolution of one of the most creative fashion genius of all times.

Visual references from the movie Avatar have been added to better illustrate McQueen's 2010 Spring collection , a fashion show with  a flair on " the origin of species " that  as some say,  Charles Darwin would have certainly liked.

Goddess save McQueen.

Born in London in 1969 as the youngest of six children, McQueen left school at the age of 16 and was offered an apprenticeship at the traditional Savile Row tailors Anderson and Shephard, then at neighbouring Gieves and Hawkes.

At 20 he was employed by the designer Koji Tatsuno. A year later McQueen traveled to Milan where he worked as a design assistant to Romeo Gigli. He returned to London in 1994 where he completed a master's degree in fashion design at Central St Martins College. His degree collection was famously bought in its entirety by Isabella Blow, a leading figure in the fashion world who died in

In less than 10 years McQueen became one of the most respected fashion designers in the world. In October 1996 he was appointed chief designer at the French label Givenchy where he worked until March 2001.

In December 2000, 51% of Alexander McQueen was acquired by luxury brand Gucci, where he became creative director. Expansion followed and included the opening of flagship stores in New York, London and Milan.

McQueen was a four-time winner of the British designer of the year award as well as the international designer of the year award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. He was awarded the CBE in 2003.

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