Alexander McQueen used skulls as a recurring motif in his designs. Skulls have historically been used in art as a memento mori, however, they have also been historical symbols of rebellion and non-conformity in subcultures from pirates to punk. McQueen, nicknamed “L'enfant Terrible”, brought the skull motif into high fashion as a sign of his own subversion of fashion norms. Donor Terence Siew bought this piece from the McQueen boutique in Paris around 2010. Siew has a penchant for collecting fashion pieces that exemplify collaborations between ‘high’ and ‘low’ fashion, including pieces from the Virgil Arbloh with LV or Gucci with Adidas tie ups. Likewise, his style mixes the formal with the extraordinary, incorporating unusual elements into standard menswear such as this punk-influenced ring with a black or silver suit.
