Famous Arlingtonian

After our snippet on ex-local Douglas Adams in the last Arlingtonian, the local fashionistas rushed to tell us that designer Alexander McQueen CBE (1969–2010) used to live at 9 Coleman Fields. Born in Lewisham and brought up in Stratford, he thrived as a rebel fashion designer. He produced outrageous outfits for David Bowie and Björk, and we have McQueen to blame for ‘bumsters’ – lowrise trousers. However he was one of the youngest designers to be named British Fashion Designer of the Year, a title he won four times.

We don’t know what he thought of our area and the No Dogs policy for Arlington Square, but in his will

McQueen left £50,000 for the upkeep of his dogs and £100,000 to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.