High Fashion Thursday, Issue #11: Alexander McQueen's 'Harry Potter' Connection & Hell's Angels Suit

The house of Alexander McQueen hasn't failed to shake the fashion industry with tragedy, controversy and genius, especially over the past year.  Recent movie stills from the upcoming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movie featured character Fleur Delacour's black and white wedding dress, which bears a rather striking resemblance to a dress seen on the runway of Alexander McQueen's 2008 Fall collection.

Jany Temime, the costume designer for the movie, had used phoenixes to form the shape of a heart on the bust of the dress, "because like love," she says, "it is eternal."  McQueen's dress featured a pair of peacocks in similar form with a shorter hemline.  Many fashion watchers have been scratching their heads as to whether this is a case of "something borrowed", and many hoping this to be an uncredited McQueen creation.

I had checked some online resources, as well as the book itself: the beautiful bride wore a simple white dress with a tiara when she married Bill Weasley, the wedding taking place at the Weasley family home.  The event itself was simple and understated pending the tragic events surrounding it.  (I won't spoil that for you here!)

And something else for those fashion watchers to keep scratching over ...

Motorcycle organization Hell's Angels have filed a lawsuit against the Alexander McQueen house over the use of their trademarked symbol of the 'Death Head', a skull with a pair of wings - a symbol they have been using and associated with since 1948.

The lawsuit asks for unspecified damages and the "supervised destruction of offending merchandise," which includes a $1,500 dress, a $500 ring, a $2,300 handbag and a $560 silk scarf amongst other pieces they believe incorporate this trademark-protected design.

The Hell's Angels are very protective of their membership rights representing their organization, and do not take lightly to those whom they believe infringe upon their symbols.  "This isn't just about money, it's about membership," says Fritz Capp, a lawyer representing the Hell's Angels.  "If you've got one of these rings on, a member might get really upset that you're an imposter."  The biker gang has won similar suits against Disney and Marvel Comics, and seem to be quite serious about going after McQueen and associate conglomerates. 

Trust me - a Hell's Angel biker thinking you're a poser?  That's the last thing you'll need.

Photos courtesy of The Fashionist.