High Fashion Thursday, Issue #11: Alexander McQueen's 'Harry Potter' Connection & Hell's Angels Suit

The house of Alexander McQueen hasn't failed to shake the fashion industry with tragedy, controversy and genius, especially over the past year.  Recent movie stills from the upcoming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movie featured character Fleur Delacour's black and white wedding dress, which bears a rather striking resemblance to a dress seen on the runway of Alexander McQueen's 2008 Fall collection.

Jany Temime, the costume designer for the movie, had used phoenixes to form the shape of a heart on the bust of the dress, "because like love," she says, "it is eternal."  McQueen's dress featured a pair of peacocks in similar form with a shorter hemline.  Many fashion watchers have been scratching their heads as to whether this is a case of "something borrowed", and many hoping this to be an uncredited McQueen creation.

I had checked some online resources, as well as the book itself: the beautiful bride wore a simple white dress with a tiara when she married Bill Weasley, the wedding taking place at the Weasley family home.  The event itself was simple and understated pending the tragic events surrounding it.  (I won't spoil that for you here!)

And something else for those fashion watchers to keep scratching over ...

Motorcycle organization Hell's Angels have filed a lawsuit against the Alexander McQueen house over the use of their trademarked symbol of the 'Death Head', a skull with a pair of wings - a symbol they have been using and associated with since 1948.

The lawsuit asks for unspecified damages and the "supervised destruction of offending merchandise," which includes a $1,500 dress, a $500 ring, a $2,300 handbag and a $560 silk scarf amongst other pieces they believe incorporate this trademark-protected design.

The Hell's Angels are very protective of their membership rights representing their organization, and do not take lightly to those whom they believe infringe upon their symbols.  "This isn't just about money, it's about membership," says Fritz Capp, a lawyer representing the Hell's Angels.  "If you've got one of these rings on, a member might get really upset that you're an imposter."  The biker gang has won similar suits against Disney and Marvel Comics, and seem to be quite serious about going after McQueen and associate conglomerates. 

Trust me - a Hell's Angel biker thinking you're a poser?  That's the last thing you'll need.

Photos courtesy of The Fashionist.

Inspirations: Harry Potter, Fawkes the Phoenix

 I've finally used up the rest of the Swarovski crystals from the Artbeads.com Crystallized Swarovski Elements project!  A few small red crystal rondelles left, I found some new inspiration with recycling a pair of earrings and turned it into a something worth a tribute.

The HARRY POTTER Collection - Fawkes the Phoenix earrings

 

I had purchased earrings with these phoenix birds emblazoned in these cabochons.  I had lost one a long time ago, and had unexpectedly found it again just last week!  In spirit of the phoenix, I decided to transform these earrings into something new, inspired by the loyal familiar of Hogwart's Professor Dumbledore of the Harry Potter series, Fawkes.  The lucite yellow and red crystals make up the Gryffendor House colours, which Harry is a member of.   You can purchase these one-of-a-kind earrings in my Etsy shop!

I'm very choosy when doing 'tribute' pieces because I want to make sure they're done with respect.  I've so many ideas floating around, especially with Lost in its sixth and final season, and the loads of reading I've been doing lately.

Take a look at the other 'tribute' pieces I've done!

• Alice in Wonderland
• Carnivale 
• Dead Like Me
• Frank Miller's 300
• Fringe
• The Harry Potter Series 
• Lost
• The Twilight Saga

*Disclaimer: I had received these products free of charge from Artbeads.com and I am making an honest review of the products and have not been paid for this endorsement as it pertains to the products received.

Photography credit: Cassandra Watsham

Book-to-Movie Inspirations: Stephanie Meyer's 'Twilight' Saga & J.K. Rowling's 'Harry Potter' series

With two of the biggest book franchises now turned into movie blockbusters, it's hard not to deny their influence. These two pieces, inspired by the Harry Potter series and The Twilight Saga, came together because of my love and appreciation for these series of books that will most certainly stand the test of time as part of our pop culture.


 
NECKLACE NO. 1: “Hedwig” I was a late bloomer when it came to Harry Potter. I’m not saying that I was against it, or that I ever boycotted it, I just didn’t pick it up right away and read it. The first few books were more of a severe pre-teen market, but I remember it picking up pace (and interesting reviews) when it was accused of teaching children ‘witchcraft’ and possibly lured into ‘occult worship’. I think that’s what made me read these books, as well as my good friends Karen and Curtis, who are bookworms themselves, who gave good praises and recommendations.

Later in the series, darker themes are introduced as Harry reaches an age of maturity, and the perspective matched an older, more mature Harry as he faces these challenges. Here, I’ve made a necklace dedicated to his loyal pet owl, Hedwig, given to him as a gift from Reubus Hagrid, groundskeeper at Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Here is where Harry will begin his legacy.