Lynne McCrossan: Creative genius of Alexander McQueen will be much missed

HANGING over a hearth in the living room of a tiny one bed flat in Gorgie, a geometric patterned dress takes pride of place.

It serves two functions. The first fulfilling its original brief, to be worn as an item of clothing. The second, obligating its role as a work of art that should be admired by the masses.

A mere stone's throw away in the other room a pair of very ornate heels decorate an old worn-out radiator. They were the fruits of two months' labour and worth every last minute of work.

Truth be told, the shoes are a killer to walk in but the pain miraculously diminishes the moment someone mentions how beautiful they are.

The creative genius behind both pices de rsistance was Alexander McQueen. The dishevelled one-bed flat belongs to me.

McQueen did for fashion what Warhol did for art. He blurred lines, caused polar opposites and turned the fashion industry on its head. He continually pushed boundaries and for that his peers rewarded him.

The British Fashion Council decorated him not once, but four times, bestowing their highest accolade – Designer Of The Year – to him. He picked up a CBE on top of being crowned International Designer of the Year at the Council of Fashion Designer Awards.

This man is responsible for igniting my interest in fashion. Growing up I would gawp at the gorgeous garments he'd send down a runway. I'd be awestruck by the spectacle of his shows. Each image had a story, each set a thought to provoke.

Designers are ten-a-penny – great designers are hard to come by and once every so often there is a talent so rare it transcends fashion and becomes iconic. McQueen was one of those rare talents. He will secure his place as one of the greatest artists of our generation.

The man known as "the hooligan of English fashion" will simply be remembered as a gent.