Last year saw the passing of an amazing fashion artist, Alexander McQueen. His inspiring designs graced runways around the world, earning him 4 British Designer of the Year Awards as well as numerous other recognitions in the fashion world. To help honor the fashion icon and legend, the Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute has assembled a retrospective that peers into the life and designs of this mega-fashion star.

While the exhibit itself will not open for viewing until May 4 (and will remain open through July 31 of 2011), they recently allowed for a preview for select members of the fashion industry, including a longtime friend of McQueen, Stella McCartney. Samantha Cameron and Anna Wintour held the early viewing of the collection in London at the Ritz.

The collection contains pieces from Alexander McQueen’s entire collection of work, some of which had to be borrowed from archives in London. The retrospective pays homage to McQueen’s daring imagery and fantastical view of what fashion meant to him. When the gallery is open to the public, visitors will get a chance to marvel at over 100 pieces created by McQueen over his 19 year long career in the fashion industry.

Although McQueen has passed, the Metropolitan Museum hopes that this look into the career of the daring and sometimes controversial designer will continue to inspire current and future designers for the future. The Museum wanted to reflect McQueen in a way that showcased the artist that he was with his chosen medium, fashion.