The preview at the Ritz was presented by Vogue editor Anna Wintour and Samantha Cameron, against the backdrop of London fashion week Photograph: Solve Sundsbo/The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The location of the exhibition, at the Metropolitan Museum, sends the message that great fashion design is equal in status to any other form of artistic expression Photograph: Solve Sundsbo/The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Thomas Campbell, the director of the Met, praised the artistry of McQueen's work: "His work fits so easily within the discourse of art" Photograph: Solve Sundsbo/The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Andrew Bolton, curator of the Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute, described McQueen as a 'true romantic, in the Byronic sense of the world' Photograph: Solve Sundsbo/The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The exhibition will include highlights from the very first collection, in 1994, through to his posthumous Angels & Demons collection last year Photograph: Solve Sundsbo/The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Ritz was an appropriate venue for the launch, as it was the location of McQueen's first public show - a rail of clothes he presented to the press in 1993 Photograph: Solve Sundsbo/The Metropolitan Museum of Art
On that occasion, his friend and muse the late Isabella Blow drummed up interest by running up and down the corridors of the hotel to find errant members of the press Photograph: Solve Sundsbo/The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The exhibition will be arranged thematically, rather than chronologically, starting with a gallery entitled 'The Savage Mind', examining McQueen's subversion of traditional tailoring Photograph: Solve Sundsbo/The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Other highlights will include the McQueen tartan from his notorious Highland Rape collection Photograph: Solve Sundsbo/The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Another infamous work, a dancing hologram of Kate Moss, which debuted after the model's cocaine scandal in 2006, will also be on show Photograph: Solve Sundsbo/The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The swift timing - the first anniversary of McQueen's death has only just passed - was said by the organisers to enhance the exhibition Photograph: Solve Sundsbo/The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Despite the loss of McQueen, the label lives on and is very much to the fore of fashion - the creative director is now his protege Sarah Burton Photograph: Solve Sundsbo/The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Burton's first solo collection met with great critical acclaim, and the latest will be show at Paris fashion week on Tuesday 8 March Photograph: Solve Sundsbo/The Metropolitan Museum of Art
