Casgliadau Arlein

Black tailored wool-blend evening jacket with sculptured red satin trimmed sleeves. From the autumn-winter 2020 collection of Alexander McQueen, launched on 2 March 2020 during Paris Fashion Week. Manufactured in Italy. With Alexander McQueen swing-tag.

The jacket was inspired by a lovespoon from the Museum's collection (object number 53.101.41). The design team from Alexander McQueen, including creative director Sarah Burton, made several visits to St Fagans National Museum of History in late 2019/early 2020 to examine examples of Welsh craft. Burton told Vogue magazine that she had been inspired by Wales and its "incredible artistic poetic heritage and its folklore and craft". Referring to the jacket, she said: "This jacket symbolises the juxtaposition of female power and sensitivity, with sleeves hand-draped in the studio to form exploded hearts... The body is strictly tailored and the shoulders are sculptured, echoing the lovespoons that we found in Welsh houses – traditional tokens of endearment exchanged by lovers ahead of marriage... The heart is a universal symbol of both strength and love." Beyoncé Knowles-Carter wore a jacket of the same design on the cover of the December 2020 edition of British Vogue (object number F2021.4).

Described by Alexander McQueen as: 'black wool-silk tailored jacket with trompe l’oeil layered lapels and sculpted heart sleeve drapes in red double duchesse satin'. Closed with one self-fabric covered button at centre front. The jacket has peak lapels. A second set of outer peak lapels have been applied to front and back of the jacket. In the upper section, the outer lapels separate from the main body of the jacket and are lined in red fabric. At the shoulders, this section extends and flares out into exaggerated shoulders and undulating drapery running down the length of each sleeve. There jacket has mock hip pockets with pocket flaps. It has a black twill-woven lining. There is a 20cm long vent at lower centre back.