Alexander McQueen's Perfect Quarantine Soundtrack

At Alexander McQueen, Sarah Burton has created a world populated by women who at times can feel otherworldly. But underneath the fantasy that is automatically evoked by feathers, ruffles, lace, and impeccable handiwork, there is always a strength that underlines her vision. We can see this when we look at runway images, but when you see the models in motion, parading up and down the runway with a roaring soundtrack selected by John Gosling, who's been in charge of the music at McQueen shows for over two decades, the experience becomes something completely different.

Now we are all quarantined, and at least immediately, the date of the next fashion week is unknown, but in the meantime, Gosling has created a playlist on Spotify inspired by many of the show's soundtracks. There are dreamy tracks from Isobel Waller-Bridge (yes, Phoebe's sister is a composer) that she wrote and performed for the Spring 2020 show, if you close your eyes, you can imagine yourself wearing a sheer lace gown with voluminous, ruffled sleeves. From McQueen's Fall 1997 show, which if you recall featured models in cat-like eye makeup, cowhide skirts and boots, and dangerously pointy shoulders—Gosling included a one and a half minute track by Shards, a vocal group from London, that somehow manages to immediately relax you. Vaults' "Cry No More," from McQueen's last show perfectly captures the mood of our current time, melancholic but hopeful. If you feel the walls of your place closing in a little too hard, consider putting on one of these playlists, putting on your headphones, and closing your eyes just for a few minutes. They are the escape your brain needs right now.