Alexander McQueen Menswear returns with "Gangsters"

Alexander McQueen marked its return to London's fashion calendar with a creepily compelling autumn/winter 2013 menswear collection.

Alexander McQueen menswear autumn/winter 2013 collection Photo: VLADIMIR POTOP

Snaffling Sarah Burton's masculine output from Milan is the most notable coup in this London Collections: Men schedule. Yet as the audience gingerly settled itself into the rickety chairs lining a Dickensian, East End warren of wood-panelled rooms, one question begged itself - why did McQueen ever leave London at all?

Photo: VLADIMIR POTOP

After all, the capital is riddled with perfect backdrops for the artfully discordant brand of fashion that is McQueen's speciality.

Photos: Vladmir Potop

Take this collection, which featured a cast of hollow cheeked models stalking those mournful rooms in oversized, elongated suits that made them resemble a mob of sallow gangsters. For extra jitter, some wore cinematic serial killer semi-transparent face masks. Traditional Savile Row decorations including chalk-stripe, Bengal, polka dot and Prince of Wales were cut up and rearranged into a kaleidoscope of nerdy menswear references, under Pinkie-perfect peaked shoulders.

Kate Moss goes for Olympic gold

Supermodel Kate Moss poses in gold McQueen gown for British Vogue shoot to mark the Olympic Closing Ceremony. But is this the dress she'll wear on the night?

Her sporting credentials extend to walking her dog in the country and practising yoga, but Kate Moss has got into the Olympic spirit in the latest issue of Vogue.

The 38-year-old supermodel poses in the pages of the monthly style bible in a gold encrusted, bias-cut gown conceived by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen to celebrate the London 2012 Closing Ceremony.

In collaboration with the British Fashion Council, Vogue commissioned visionary photographer Nick Knight to capture Moss and fellow top British models wearing unique designs by the country's top design talent.

Fellow super, Naomi Campbell, also sports McQueen in the shoot, while aristocratic beauty Stella Tennant can be seen in Christopher Kane. Lilys Cole and Donaldson wear Erdem and Vivienne Westwood respectively, while Burberry favourite Jourdan Dunn dons Jonathan Saunders. Gap-toothed Georgia May Jagger has been outfitted in Victoria Beckham while man-of-the-moment David Gandy wears Paul Smith.

With rumours abounding that Vogue's line-up of models will star in the actual London 2012 Closing Ceremony, is this a teaser of the frocks that are to grace Stratford's Olympic Stadium? However one thing is for sure: with top Brazilian model Alessanda Ambrosio in the house to participate in the handover of the Olympic Flag from London to Brazil, the host nation of the next Summer Olympic Games, August 12 is set to be the most stylish date of the year.

Alexander McQueen launches the Heroine handbag

Meet the Heroine, Alexander McQueen's new 'It Bag' which goes on sale today. Warning: may be addictive.

Zoe Saldana and her black leather medium-sized Heroine handbag. Photo: Getty

We love it when a new hero bag comes to market so we have something fresh to drool over, pine for and covet. The latest object of our affection comes courtesy of those accessory maestros at Alexander McQueen, who today launch their new baby, the 'Heroine' (see what they did there?).

The Heroine in black croc, 127,892 AED. PHOTO: Dan Tobin Smith

Described by McQueen as a "timeless luxury piece" the Heroine is the luxe love child of the satchel and the doctor's bag, with a teardrop profile and short, tote-style handles.

It comes in a small, rectangular shape, and a medium square form (already spotted swinging on Zoe Saldana's arm), and is basically a total beauty.

To mark the launch, and McQueen's increased focus on accessories, the Heroine is starring in its very own campaign shot by renowned still life photographer Dan Tobin Smith in which she sits in all her black croc amazingness spot lit on a crisp white graphic backdrop.