Meet the Fashion Collector With a Passion for McQueen and Ann Demeulemeester
For Tanya Ravichandran, fashion hunting begins almost as soon as she wakes up.
Before grabbing her morning coffee or heading out for a workout, the New York-based photographer and content creator checks resale platforms to see what new pieces have appeared overnight. But she isn’t casually browsing. Ravichandran has a very specific mission: finding rare vintage designs from Alexander McQueen and Ann Demeulemeester.
“I wake up, go on my phone, and immediately check every single secondhand app’s listings,” she says.
Her dedication has reached another level. Ravichandran says she even uses a bot that searches the internet around the clock, helping her spot pieces before they disappear from the market.
Based in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Ravichandran has built a huge online audience by sharing her passion for fashion and giving followers occasional looks into her extraordinary wardrobe. She has more than a million followers on TikTok, where she showcases some of the rare pieces she has collected over the years.
Her collection is particularly impressive. She currently owns more than 200 pieces by Ann Demeulemeester and over 400 from Alexander McQueen.
Although she has been collecting fashion for around a decade, Ravichandran says her search became much more intense about three years ago. Her wardrobe also includes designs from other major labels, including Margiela and Tom Ford-era Gucci, but McQueen and Demeulemeester remain at the heart of her collection.
She believes focusing closely on particular designers has helped her become a better collector.
Why Alexander McQueen and Ann Demeulemeester?
For Ravichandran, the attraction goes beyond simply owning expensive or rare clothing.
She is especially fascinated by the storytelling behind Alexander McQueen’s work. The late British designer, who died in 2010, was known for creating fashion shows that felt more like dramatic performances, with each collection presenting its own atmosphere and characters.
That creative approach strongly appeals to Ravichandran because she also enjoys using clothing to create a character and tell a story.
“I love dressing like a character in my own story,” she explains.
Among her most treasured McQueen pieces is a striking leather jacket from the designer’s Spring 2003 collection. The bondage-inspired design features a fitted, corset-like waist and silver D-rings across the leather.
Ravichandran says the jacket often attracts attention from people who immediately recognise its origins, particularly fashion lovers familiar with McQueen’s work from the early 2000s.
Another standout item in her collection is a corset from McQueen’s Fall 2002 collection, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. The collection drew inspiration from the dark and imaginative world of filmmaker Tim Burton.
According to Ravichandran, the corset has an especially interesting history because Adriana Lima wore it during the runway show. She also says Britney Spears wore the same design, making it one of the pieces she treasures most.
Still, Ravichandran’s search is far from over. She hopes to eventually find the skirt that completes the look.
Her McQueen collection also includes a pair of pirate boots from the Spring 2003 collection. She found the boots on eBay and became curious about their previous owner after they arrived.
After searching for the seller's name online, Ravichandran discovered an unexpected connection: she says the woman was married to a member of the Rolling Stones.
For Ravichandran, stories like these are part of what makes collecting vintage fashion so exciting. Each piece is not only clothing but also a small piece of fashion history, carrying its own story, memories and connections.
And with hundreds of McQueen and Demeulemeester pieces already in her wardrobe, her collection appears to be far from finished.
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