MILAN, Jan 17, 2006/ FW/ --- A red full moon, a darkened stage set with models brooding, Alexander McQueen brings us to the underworld for his Fall 2006 menswear collection.

Maybe its because fellow Brit Kate Beckinsdale stars in Underworld II due in theaters this summer; perhaps, its because New Orleans where ‘Interview of the Vampire’ author Anne Rice lives has been on the headlines for several months now; or better yet, Alexander McQueen just wants to bring his audience for a ride as always.

A master of theater, McQueen never fails to please his audience, always on the cutting edge, and always on the forefront of fashion.

So, last night, in an unused warehouse in Milan, Alexander McQueen led the way in visiting the ‘underverse’ --- from Dracula’s Transylvania, to Jekyll & Hyde’s Victorian London, to Vampire Lestat’s 17th century France and finally to the opium den of the Far East.

Boxy suit jackets paired with high-waisted loose fitting pants were matched with knitted sweaters, reminiscent of rock & roll star David Bowie. Three piece-suits ruled, including embroidered and/or sequined capes, something that even Count Dracula will be proud of.

The inspiration might be from the past, but the collection did not look aged. In fact, McQueen’s take with rich detailing on leather jackets, cardigan vests and belted coats is concurrent with the Britishmania that is raging in Milan right now.

Of course, that is to be expected. McQueen who trained in Saville Row himself is a masterful tailor. Nothing was left to chance in his creativity, including the lacy shirts and the leather bomber jackets where imprinting was used to create prints.

His days as a couturier at Givenchy showed up during the opium den portion, where female models wore highly detailed embroidered and gold-stenciled gowns, and male models ornate coats worthy of a Chinese Emperor.

Theater and fashion converged perfectly! And today, as McQueen launched his ‘McQ’ denim line, the theater was gone and streetwise fashion was the name of the game.

From one end of the fashion spectrum in 24 hours, Alexander McQueen’s creative genius cannot be questioned!

Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen