Shock hit the international fashion world today as news of British designer Alexander McQueen's apparent suicide circled the globe, the same day fashion week kicked off in New York.
McQueen, 40, was found dead at his home in west London this morning. Scotland Yard is not treating the death as suspicious, but early reports of a suicide have not been confirmed by police. "We are devastated and in shock," said Samantha Garrett, the communications director for the Alexander McQueen fashion house. The designer's death comes on the heels of the Feb. 2 passing of his mother, Joyce. McQueen was scheduled to show a new collection in Paris early next month.
McQueen was beloved at the highest levels of fashion as the "enfant terrible" or "anarchist designer" of the industry. He was internationally acclaimed for both his clothes as well as his cutting edge fashion shows, considered by many to be performance art year after year.
Alexander McQueen, March 17,1969 - February 11, 2010