McQueen's 'Plato's Atlantis' Look Sells for Record $1.586 Million

A custom version of the opening look from Alexander McQueen's final show has sold for $1.586 million, setting a new auction record for the late designer. The sale occurred three days before the British label's scheduled return to London Fashion Week under its new creative director, Sean McGirr.

The puff-sleeve top and bubble skirt set, made of Lurex-flecked jacquard, is a faithful reproduction of the dress that opened the spring 2010 'Plato's Atlantis' collection. That show was the first to be live-streamed online. The custom piece features the same digitally printed reptile motifs and yellow hexagonal hip embellishments as the original, which remains in the McQueen archive in London.

Auction Details and Provenance

The record-breaking lot was one of 23 items in 'The Impossible Couture Collection,' curated by New York socialite Peter Brant Jr. and the app-based auction house Fair Warning. The final price more than tripled early estimates, which started at $600,000. The winning bidder's identity was not disclosed.

The ensemble's value is heightened by its exceptional provenance. It belonged to supermodel Naomi Campbell, a personal friend of McQueen. She closed her Fashion For Relief Haiti charity show wearing it as a tribute following the designer's death. During the September 17 sale at Brant Jr.'s Upper East Side mansion, auctioneer Jussi Pylkkänen lauded McQueen's Darwinian vision, stating, 'It's going to the Met one day.'

Cultural Significance and Legacy

The original 'Plato's Atlantis' dress has already been displayed at both the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum as part of the 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' exhibition. The collection's iconic Armadillo heels, included with Campbell's set, have also achieved pop culture status.

Only 21 pairs of the Armadillo shoes were ever produced. They gained fame after Lady Gaga wore an opalescent pair in her 'Bad Romance' music video and a python pair at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. The shoes, standing between 10 and 12 inches high with a dramatic curved foot, were so difficult to walk in that three models originally cast in the 'Plato's Atlantis' show refused to wear them over safety concerns.

Broader Auction Results

Campbell's McQueen ensemble now ranks among the most valuable fashion pieces ever sold. The broader 'Impossible Couture' auction generated total sales of $3.2 million. Following McQueen, records were also broken for Yves Saint Laurent and Alaïa.

The sale confirms the enduring intrigue and market demand for McQueen's work more than two decades after his death.