Extreme McQueen: How to Wear Accessories a seminar offered by the V&A Museum in London England

Written by guest writer Dianna Drahanchuk while in London

The title alone was enough to entice me to pay the $40 fee. (I was there for the Alexander McQueen exhibit anyway.)  I expected to be impressed, but I was astounded! The student work exuded imagination, thoughtfulness and provocativeness.

For 12 years Swarovski and University of the Arts London Central Saint Martins (Alexander McQueen’s alma mater) have collaborated to shortlist 10 final year BA Jewellery Design students to create a spectacular piece of jewellery. This year’s project, "entitled Savage Beauty and using themes in McQueen’s work, the project was to design an ambitious piece that also celebrated Swarovski crystal or gemstones.”

Xinyu Wang’s headpiece becomes a "focal point…to create the experience of looking through a camera viewfinder."

Kota Okuda’s design is a “representation of the cultural transference that marks both historical and contemporary issues of identity."

Charlotte Asherson’s piece “explores the dawn of the industrial age and 

how human beings have impacted upon the environment.”

Dennis Song’s creation "illustrates the concept that human desires ‘eat’ human souls."

Fiona Kakei Chong for her creation used her seashell collection as adornment and as “a celebration of collecting and decorating."

Birgit Toke Tauka Frietman (not shown) model displaying her piece 

“marrying of the delicate and the forceful. This piece both shields and exposes"

Akiko Shinzato with model and piece "representing make-up as a form of jewellery."

Juliette van de Kerchove models her work that “aims to express 

how a changing physical environment might provoke adaptations of the body."

Jessica Pass designed a "strong angular structure…juxtaposed with the delicate fragility of pheasant feathers.”(Right photo by Anton Belmonte photographed from handout)

Proud Course Leader Caroline Broadhead kindly gave me permission to use the 

above quotes and photo culled from the handout at the seminar. 

All other photos by Dianna Drahanchuk.