Post Lee Alexander McQueen’s tragic and untimely death in February of this year, it seems that celebrities everywhere are paying tribute to him by sporting his designs around town.

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In the house of McNulty, we’re having our very own ode to McQueen. In the form of the iconic skull and crossbones scarf.

It’s actually a good story, a case of fashion destiny, if you will.

The story is about my mother, Pam. (the one with the buying power around these parts, damn her)

The story goes: Pam was shopping at the downtown Seattle Nordstrom one day after having lunch with her girlfriends. They were cruising the first floor: shoes, makeup, accessories….

Pam made the ladies stop in the scarf section. In front of the small display of silk chiffon Alexander McQueen skull scarves to be exact.

Pam to Ladies: “you know I have always wanted one of these scarves.” 

(when she told me this bit I actually was a bit shocked – I had no idea she had lusted over this skull scarf, but then again, my mother does surprise me from time to time.)

Ladies: “well, you better buy one now, they will be collector’s items soon.” 

(I am pretty sure the house of McQueen will keep producing these scarves for many years to come, much like Hermès does, but the original lot of scarves designed by Mr. McQueen himself will inevitably become valuable.)

Suddenly, a salesgirl approaches.

Salesgirl to Pam: “you know, this is the very last of our early Spring delivery. These are the last of the McQueen originals. They will be gone very soon.”

Pam: “Well, I have always wanted one, but you know what, I am just not a silk chiffon scarf person. I don’t know if I would wear it. The one I really wanted was one of the large wool/cashmere colorful ones.” (She claims this is because it’s more practical….)

Salesgirl pauses…and thinks… and then says, “well, hold on a second….” She disappears into the backroom.

Pam waits patiently in anticipation.

Salesgirl comes back out a couple of moments later, with a purple and green  large wool/cashmere McQueen scarf in her hand.

Salesgirl: “We just had someone return this who had received it as a gift and decided to exchange it for one of the silk chiffon black and white ones. Is this what you were thinking of?”

Pam: “That’s exactly the one I was thinking of!”

This was unbelievably actually the exact scarf my mother had wanted. Her favorite colors are indeed purple and green. As I mentioned before: it was fashion destiny. Pam now had to own the scarf. God clearly wanted it (or McQueen himself, as he possibly divine intervened in this too).

Now Pam owns a piece of contemportary fashion history. And yes, I will be inheriting it one day.  Until that day, I  get the pleasure of knowing there is a piece of Mr. Lee Alexander McQueen in the family. Long live McQueen. <3.

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