Alexander McQueen's Shocking Suicide Rocked NY/London Fashion Week [images and video]

In the midst of Fashion Week in New York City, sad news will certainly shape the mood of the events under the famous white tents in Bryant Park. Acclaimed fashion designer Alexander McQueen has been reported dead, from an apparent suicide, on the day his newest endeavor was to be unveiled to the world."McQueen's secondary line, McQ, was to be presented TODAY as part of New York Fashion Week. KCD, the PR company handling the show, says the presentation is canceled," The Huffington Post noted.

The handbill for his event:

McQueen had become more renowned recently for outfitting the outrageous Lady Gaga in the video [below] for her song, "Bad Romance." Most notably, in an awe-inspiring pair of towering ten inch platform heels that had everyone buzzing. He also designed the cover alt-pop star of Bjork's album 1997 "Homogenic" as well as the jacket that fashion icon and rock legend David Bowie was wearing on the cover of his release, "Earthling." "The designer's death comes just three years after the suicide of his close friend and mentor Isabella Blow, the magazine editor who plucked him from obscurity and helped him become a star of the fashion world," WalesOnline reported, Blow had worked with both British and American Vogue as well as countless other publications. The countess of couture even had a MAC lipstick named after her signature scarlet pout. McQueen dedicated his Spring 2008 collection to her.

The Associated Press reported this morning, "Company spokeswoman Samantha Garrett said McQueen's body was found in the morning but that she had no information "in terms of circumstances."Police did not directly comment when asked about how McQueen died, but said officers were called by the ambulance service at 10:20 a.m. (1020GMT) to an address on Green Street, in central London, and found a 40-year-old man dead. They did not name him but said next of kin had been informed. The force said a post-mortem would be held but that the death was not being treated as suspicious.

McQueen was born in the East End of London on March 17, 1969. His father was a taxi driver and as a child he made dresses for his three sisters. As a teenager he apprenticed on Savile Row--where he made suits for Prince Charles and Mikhail Gorbachev --before attending Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design... McQueen was named England's designer of the year four times between 1996 and 2003."

A saddening statement on the designer's website reads: "ON BEHALF OF LEE MCQUEEN'S FAMILY, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN TODAY ANNOUNCES THE TRAGIC NEWS THAT LEE MCQUEEN, THE FOUNDER AND DESIGNER OF THE ALEXANDER MCQUEEN BRAND HAS BEEN FOUND DEAD AT HIS HOME. AT THIS STAGE IT IS INAPPROPRIATE TO COMMENT ON THIS TRAGIC NEWS BEYOND SAYING THAT WE ARE DEVASTATED AND ARE SHARING A SENSE OF SHOCK AND GRIEF WITH LEE'S FAMILY.LEE'S FAMILY HAS ASKED FOR PRIVACY IN ORDER TO COME TO TERMS WITH THIS TERRIBLE NEWS AND WE HOPE THE MEDIA WILL RESPECT THIS."

UPDATED 2/24: On February 22, ABC News reported, "Ten days after the passing of British designer Alexander McQueen, a stunned fashion world has gathered for the traditional autumn/winter collections in London. McQueen's suicide at age 40 shocked the fans of his clothing label, as well as the many friends he made over his career of more than 20 years." The article goes on to note that McQueen had been mourning the passing of his mother earlier this month and had taken his life the day before her funeral was to take place.  Brix Smith-Start, a singer and owner of London's Start boutique told ABC News, "The mood is good but there is a cloud of sadness. But life goes on, fashion goes on, he would have wanted it to."

Lady GaGa's "Bad Romance" video, featuring McQueen's designs: