By: Alexis Guerra

Like of the Week: McQueen’s Sci-Fi Inspired Footwear

'Alien' Inspired Stiletto

Alexander McQueen was never a designer to shy away from the bizarre and avant-garde when it came to fashion so it’s nice to see that his legacy still lives on through the House of McQueen and that none of this incredible designer’s integrity has been compromised since his untimely and heartbreaking death occurred this past February.

Since it’s nearly Halloween I wanted pay tribute to a prestigious designer but also honor the brilliant designs from his 2010 Spring/Summer Collection, titled Plato’s Atlantis. It was his surrealistic footwear in the show that really caught people’s attention. Science fiction fans everywhere, rejoice!

McQueen's Freakish Footwear

Futuristically frightening (in a fabulous way), it seems that McQueen embraced all things extraterrestrial with these extravagant H.R. Giger inspired Alien heels that channel the sci-fi horror cult classic right down to its grotesquely, exoskeleton detailed heel. Then there are his towering industrial looking armadillo-esque platforms (made famous by Lady Gaga in her “Bad Romance” music video.)

Alexander stated that his vision for the collection was based on his interpretation of nature and humanities evolution but there seems to be an undercurrent of the unearthly. It just goes to show how high end fashion can be relevant and work hand in hand with pop culture in a fresh yet freakish way.

Dislike of the Week: Worst of the Halloween Costumes Part II

Alright ladies, to quote Lindsay Lohan’s character from Mean Girls, (please try to think back, people, to a time before Lindsay knew what her favorite grade of cocaine was and still had no idea what the inside of a prison cell looked like…) “In girl world, Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.”

Never was a statement more true and I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve donned my fair share of fishnets in Halloween’s past but there’s a huge difference between being “sexy” and dressing like a slut-tastic ho-ho who looks as though she’s single-handedly ransacked the sales bin at the nearest Frederick’s of Hollywood. Now with that in mind, let’s check out some Halloween costumes that are more ‘womp, womp’ than ‘wow, wow’!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Nerd Girl

(To your left) Okay, who didn’t love Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles when they were little? My personal fave was Michelangelo cuz he was the party dude of the group and he loved pizza – I was also nine. That being said though, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty – stop and ask yourself, are turtles ever really sexy?! Really? Are they? The answer to this is no. So unless you want to parade around like a cartoon nerd’s wet dream, why, why, why then would you want to offend people’s corneas in this get-up? I think I’ve made my point.

(To your right) Another children’s classic dragged through the mud. Perhaps you’ve seen the adorably magical Disney classic,

Finding Nemo, which chronicles the journey of a small fish who is off in search his father after they are tragically separated.

Finding Nemo?!

Well, enter the ‘Naughty Nemo Costume’, which aside from the fact that it can double as a University of Tennessee cheerleading outfit reminds me NOTHING of anything remotely aquatic.  Come on, I mean give me a fin! Anything to make me believe this is in ANY way supposed to resemble a cartoon CGI fish! Then there is the black tulle and the poly/spandex legwarmers which are apparently supposed to scream “Nemo”?! Let’s just get one thing straight here; Nemo would NEVER wear tulle. He’s classier than that.

The "Easy" Rider

(Back to your left again) Okay, this is CLEARLY from the Mean Girls school of Halloween dressing. Apparently all you

really need to create a Cow Girl costume is a fringed mono-kini, a bandana and a cowboy hat. Obviiiously. It seemed a bit risqué to me in the beginning until I realized she’s clearly a Cow Girl hooker out to turn some Halloween tricks. LOL, I kid, I kid (okay… not really. Not even a little bit. Not even at all). Honestly this ensemble reminds me of something an extra might wear in a western porno. I hope she’s at least wearing cowboy boots. I mean, damn, let’s try to have SOME authenticity.

Just some things to keep in mind, ladies, as the 31st approaches. Next week; couples costumes! Have a stellar week, everyone!