'Things rot. It was all about decay. I used flowers because they die' – Lee Alexander McQueen. McQueen’s 2007 runway show for the Sarabande collection saw models circling the runway in a colour palette that transitioned from black, to grey, to mauve, referencing historical European mourning colours and McQueen’s fascination with life’s cycles. Pictured are a suit and dress from this collection, featuring black net ruching that cleverly mimics the texture of 19th century mourning crape. Next to the garments is the still-life painting, Flowerpiece which records exotic tulips, irises and peonies picked at the height of their beauty. If you look closer, you’ll see that the flowers have started to decay, reminding us of the inevitable passage of time in a display of melancholy beauty. See art and fashion in dialogue at Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse, book at ngv.melbourne/mcqueen 1: Installation view of Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse (detail) on display at NGV International from 11 December 2022 16 April 2023. Headpiece: Michael Schmidt. Photo: Michael Pham 2: The Netherlands, Flowerpiece c. 1700 (detail), National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Gift of Mr Norton E. Grimwade in memory of his wife Mrs Norton E. Grimwade, 1945