Alexander McQueen would have been 44 today. On the occasion of his birthday, here’s a look back at the free pattern McQueen shared with SHOWstudio: the Scanners kimono jacket.
The original kimono jacket was made of black silk, and was shown on the runway with a matching pencil skirt and long gloves (worn by a pre-Outlander Caitriona Balfe):
The kimono jacket is drawn from Scanners, Alexander McQueen’s Fall/Winter 2003 collection. (The invitation to the show was printed with brain scans—CAT scans of the designer’s brain.) This was the year McQueen received his CBE from Queen Elizabeth II, as well as the CFDA’s International Award and his fourth British Fashion Designer of the Year. The models walked across a snowy tundra and along a raised wind tunnel; the design references represented a journey eastward through Siberia, Tibet, and Japan, mixed with geometric prints and McQueen’s signature tailoring. (See Suzy Menkes, “The Collections / Paris: A stellar McQueen; elegance at Viktor & Rolf.”)
Here are the collection images from L’Officiel 1000 modèles (click to enlarge):
Watch the runway video (kimono jacket at about 6:10):
Kimono-inspired designs are a thread running through McQueen’s work. Here are a few more kimono looks by Alexander McQueen, from Eclect Dissect—Givenchy couture, Fall 1997 (as on the McQueen / Nick Knight album cover for Björk’s Homogenic); La Dame Bleue, in memory of Isabella Blow; and the posthumous Fall 2010 collection:
Download the kimono jacket pattern
Size: US size 6 / UK size 8 approx. (bust 32″ – waist 24″) *
Fabric requirements: approx. 1.75 metres (about 2 yards) of 60″ fabric / over 3 metres (about 3.25 yards) of 39″ fabric *
See the SHOWstudio submissions gallery here (now on main download page). Toronto’s Mel of inside out inside has made an adapted version in Lida Baday fabric. Blithe of blithe stitches has a post on her metallic Hablon version and also a detailed tutorial. **See archived post.
Update: Useful for comparison: the photos of this gold brocade version of the McQueen kimono jacket on 1stdibs:
* Sizes and yardages are approximate and are drawn from Mel and Blithe’s notes on their versions of the kimono jacket.
PatternVault 
I downloaded this ages ago but have never gotten around to making it. I’m looking for the perfect fabric and a 22″ waist to showcase it!!
It is on the small side, isn’t it? Although a shortcut could be to print the sheets at over 100%, maybe..?
Same. I downloaded it two maybe three years ago and forgot all about it. Thanks for the reminder.
Oh crikey it’s in A4s. Now I remember why I didn’t bother at the time XP Lucky I’ve got a better vector program now..
You’re welcome 😉 When I downloaded it (also a while ago) there was also a large sheets option—definitely the one I’ll be taking!
This is fascinating…. I absolutely adore this pattern and will be bookmarking it for later assembly (quite wonderful there is a tutorial which should save some hand ringing). RIP McQueen. I cried when I found out he passed. Too brilliant for this mortal coil…
I love these Kimono style jackets. You wouldn’t think that big square sleeves would be flattering and yet……they look divine!
Reblogged this on The Impossible Girl & Her Blue Box.
Made this and finished it on the 10 yr anniversary of Lee’s passing. Didn’t plan it that way, just worked out. Don’t know how to thank you and send you a pic. Thank you for highlighting his genius. I’m keeping my McQueen for Givenchy pattern as a family heirloom to pass down to future generations (I have his suit and pants pattern v2653). I had to significantly increase girth and do a FBA but he’s left lots of places where that can be done unobtrusively. Love it.
Are there any instructions as to how it’s sewn together exactly? I feel a little lost looking at the pieces.
Hi Carole, Blithe used to have a tutorial, but I see it’s no longer up, so I’ve added a link to the archived version. Thanks!