British fashion designer Alexander McQueen was discovered dead today after taking his own life.
The industry was left reeling after the 40-year-old's suicide this morning, which comes just days after the death of his beloved mother, Joyce.
It is also just three years since his close friend, style guru Isabella Blow - who plucked him from obscurity and helped him become a star - killed herself.
McQueen, who was christened Lee but used his middle name as a designer, was found at his luxury flat in Mayfair, central London. It is believed he hanged himself.
One of his lines, McQ, was due to be shown at New York Fashion Week this afternoon but the show has now been cancelled.
Alexander McQueen with his mother Joyce in 2001. She died last week, days before his suicide in London this morning
McQueen with models Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss
A single rose left outside the Alexander McQueen store in Old Bond Street
Designer Katherine Hamnett said: 'He was a genius. What a terrible, tragic waste.'
Dolce & Gabbana said: 'We are deeply touched for the sudden death of Alexander McQueen, a designer whom we have always admired for his creative genius and unmatched inspiration. He leaves the fashion world with an unfillable void.'
Designer Matthew Williamson said: 'I am shocked and deeply saddened by McQueen's death. He was a genius and his talent was second to none. Like many others, I always cited him as a hugely inspirational leader of world fashion. He will be greatly missed.'
Victoria Beckham, who is frequently photographed wearing McQueen designs, said: 'McQueen was a master of fashion, creative genius and an inspiration.
'Today the fashion industry has lost a true great. An icon of all time. He made all he touched beautiful and will be desperately missed.
'My heart is very much with his family and friends at this very sad time.'
A spokesman for the magazine publisher Conde Nast described the news as 'so sad' and said the company was 'quite devastated'.
The British Fashion Council said: 'We are deeply saddened at the news of Alexander McQueen's untimely death. He was a unique talent and one of the world's greatest designers. Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this sad time.'
Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw added: 'Alexander McQueen made an outstanding contribution to British fashion. His extraordinary talent and creativity mean that his designs are adored not just by followers of haute couture but lovers of great style everywhere. This is a great loss to one of Britain's most successful industries and to the design world more widely.'
Fashion consultant Alice Smith, who arrived at McQueen's home with a bunch of flowers today, said: 'I have known Alexander since his first collection. He was a lovely man and the best fashion designer in the world.
'No one can beat him, no one will ever be as good as him. He was a charming man but also quite fragile.'
The designer was the youngest of six children.
He left school at 16 and went to work at Savile Row’s Anderson & Sheppard, whose clients included Prince Charles and Mikhail Gorbachev, after he saw a television program about the apprentice shortage in traditional tailoring.
He went on to work for Gieves & Hawkes, theatre’s famous Angels & Bermans costumiers, and then worked in Japan and Italy.
He returned to London in 1994, hoping to work as a pattern cutter tutor at London’s prestigious Central Saint Martins fashion school.
Thanks to the strength of his portfolio, he was persuaded to enrol in the course himself.
After graduating McQueen set up his own label based in the East End of London and it was then that he was spotted by Blow.
McQueen was forced to deny rumours of a rift between the pair at the time of her death, saying: ‘It’s so much b******s. These people just don’t know what they’re talking about. They don’t know me. They don’t know my relationship with Isabella. It’s complete bull****.
'People can talk; you can ask her sisters.… That part of the industry, they should stay away from my life, or mine and Isabella’s life. What I had with Isabella was completely disassociated from fashion, beyond fashion.’
McQueen with his CBE outside Buckingham Palace in October 2003
McQueen with actress Sarah Jessica Parker in New York in 2006
