ne of the last projects Designer Alexander McQueen was working on before his death last February was a line of men’s underwear.  That collection will launch in June and will not only include the typical boxers and briefs but will also expand to sleepwear, swimwear, and loungewear.

The line, co-conspired with Italian design team Albisetti SpA, will release a “Basic” range, which will include standard boxers, briefs, and vests in black, white, grey, or navy.

The ‘Fashion’ series  will be imprinted with all of McQueen’s signature icons – skulls, bones, feathers and other images.  The “Sleepwear” is inspired by the fine tailored outfits of Savile Row, where McQueen was once an apprentice.  And the “Loungewear” will combine a military style with jersey long-johns, Henley shirts, and fleece cardigans.

A line of swimwear will also be introduced sometime before summer of 2011. According to CEO Jonathan Akeroyd, the label is planning on maintaining a long-term relationship with Albisetti SpA, so we can hope for more  edgy creations in the future.

Prices will range from $50 for a pair of boxers to $600 for a silk jacquard pajama-set. The items will be available on AlexanderMcQueen.com and at select stores around the world, including Barney’s in NY, Saks Fifth Avenue and Selfridges in London. 

McQueen won his honored place in the fashion world with his dramatic and controversial runway shows showcasing his unique design talent.  His imaginative technique of combining outfits out of the most improbable materials -- fusing metal into fabric or designing a dress out of cuttlefish and mussel shells -- quickly established him as a fashion maverick to watch.

It should be interesting to see how the “Fashion” underwear will be worn. It’s obviously way too eye-catching to be worn as mere underwear. Perhaps, it was intended more as a form of male lingerie or even as outerwear, playing into the bustier trend still hot in women's wear this spring.

He once said he wanted to design “ a piece that can transcend any trend and will still hold as much presence in 100 years time when you find it in an antique store, as when you bought it in my store yesterday.” While this underwear may not endure the test of time, McQueen’s fashion creations are already secure in fashion history.

Photos Courtesy of Alexander McQueen