In the world of fashion, there are many shining stars, but Alexander McQueen seemed to sparkle just a little brighter than all the others. Sure, there are designers whose looks are way out there, but Lee (as his friends called him), was alone in his ability to combine the dreams and nightmares of childhood with our deepest adult desires and create designs that we could instantly identify as “so Alexander McQueen.” Whether you bought something from his Target collaboration or splurged on one of his higher-priced pieces (as Sandra Bullock, Rihanna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Anna Paquin, Lady Gaga, Cate Blanchett and countless other stars did), you knew that what you were wearing went beyond style and fashion. It was high-concept art.

Read Alexander McQueen Commits Suicide

So we were beyond sad yesterday morning when we learned of his untimely passing at the age of 40. And while the question why remains, we look back at Alexander McQueen’s 10 most memorable fashion moments.

All of Alexander McQueen’s shows were theatrical. Models didn’t just walk down the catwalk, they were placed in a scene out of the designer’s imagination. At his 2001 Spring show, models wandered around in a fictional mental hospital ward, wearing what looked like bathing caps on their heads, in pieces adorned with organic shapes, seashells, ruffles and more. This heavily embroidered evening gown is one part Star Wars’ Queen Amidala, one part Japanese kimono and a whole lot of exquisite craftsmanship.