The Great Rebel's Faithful Companions: How Three Dogs Became Alexander McQueen's Only Safe Haven (8 photos + video)

Behind the dazzling glitter of the catwalk and his reputation as the "hooligan of English fashion," Alexander McQueen hid a personal story that was far more sincere than any couture gown. While the world watched his provocative shows, the true masters of his life and studio were his three dogs: Juice, Minter, and Callum. Unlike Karl Lagerfeld's glamorous Choupette, this "gang" eschewed the spotlight, preferring morning strolls through Hyde Park and creating creative chaos right in the middle of the atelier. The designer's team recalls how the trio would whirl through the most expensive fabrics, transforming the chaos of work into moments of absolute peace that sometimes even suggested the direction of new collections.

Although technically a motley crew—a bull terrier, a mixed breed, and a Rhodesian Ridgeback—for Lee they were a single entity, the only bastion of sincerity in the harsh world of fashion. The most striking moment of their "socialization" was the legendary finale of the No. 13 show in 1999, when the designer walked down the runway clutching the leashes of his faithful companions. But the final chord of this story proved truly touching: in his final letter, McQueen asked for the care of the "troika," ensuring them a dignified life with a substantial trust fund. "Take care of my dogs, forgive me, I love you"—these lines sound like a poignant epilogue to the life of a man who created an incredible world of beauty, but who considered the most important thing in it to be the love for his three dogs, who were always by his side.

Why do you think creative people, surrounded by thousands of fans and colleagues, so often seek unconditional affection in friendship with animals?