Alexander McQueen commits suicide

[CSCfan]

British fashion icon Alexander McQueen commits suicide

 

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/11/article-0-0676887B0000044D-340_468x286.jpg

 

Last updated at 3:24 PM on 11th February 2010

 

British fashion designer Alexander McQueen has been found dead after taking his own life.

The 40-year-old committed suicide just three years after his close friend, Isabella Blow - who plucked him from obscurity and helped him become a star - killed herself.

 

A source at McQueen’s office this afternoon confirmed his death, saying: ‘It is a tragic loss. We are not making a comment at this time out of respect for the McQueen family.’

 

His death comes just days before the start of London Fashion Week and weeks before he was due to unveil his new collection at Paris Fashion Week on March 9.

 

Born in the East End and the son of a taxi driver, McQueen got his training in tailoring in Savile Row, eventually making suits for Prince Charles, and won the distinction of being named British designer of the year four times between 1996 and 2003.

 

He went on to be awarded the CBE, as well as being named International Designer of the Year at the Council of Fashion Designer Awards.

McQueen became the 'enfant terrible' of the fashion world after he was famously discovered by Isabella Blow, who was fashion director of Tatler.

She bought all the clothes he made for his graduate show for £5,000 and they were delivered to her in black binliners.

 

Miss Blow killed herself in May 2007 after taking an overdose of weed killer after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She had attempted suicide several times by then.

 

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 was so distraught by Isabella’s death that he dedicated his spring summer 2008 show at Paris fashion week to his late friend.

The invites to the show were poster-size illustrations Richard Gray. It depicts a triumphant Blow, in a McQueen dress and a Philip Treacy headdress, in a horse-drawn carriage ascending to heaven.

 

Miss Blow had said: 'My relationship with McQueen began in 1994, when I went to a Saint Martins graduate show. I couldn't get a seat, so I sat on the stairs and I was just watching, when I suddenly thought: I really like those clothes, they are amazing. It was his first collection.

‘It was the tailoring and the movement which initially drew me to them. I tried to get hold of him and I kept calling his mother, but he was on holiday.

She kept saying: 'He's not here, he's not here.' She told him: 'This crazy person is trying to get hold of you.' I eventually got to meet him and I decided to buy the collection: I bought one thing a month and paid him £100 a week. He'd bring an outfit in a bin liner, I'd look at it and then he'd come to the cashpoint with me.’

 

Born Lee Alexander McQueen, the designer was the youngest of six children.

Openly gay, McQueen - who once described himself as the 'pink sheep of the family' - 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 enroll in the course himself.

 

After graduating McQueen set up his own label based in the East End of London. With the launch of his 'bumsters' trousers with a waistband so low that the buttocks are revealed, McQueen made his label famous through tabloid headlines.

 

He went on to be named head designer at Givenchy in 1996, succeeding John Galliano, before joining forces with Gucci, who bought 51 per cent of his company.

[dj4celine]

I got this on my Google Alerts and OMD!

 

[nano]

I just read about this..

[whineupemily]

Just read this on Daily Mail :( It's especially striking that it's only 3 years after Isabella committed suicide

[Lian]

RIP

[celinedream]

i was just going to post this news. Celine wears his clothes all the time

[J-Man]

That's so tragic. He seemed to have so much going for him. You never know how lonely people are inside.

[disadiva]

Alexander you will be sadly missed.

[snugglesylvia]

wow, this is so sad! i cant believe someone so successful is capable of doing that. RIP Alexander Mcqueen!

[neilg]

Who is he?

 

I have honestly never heard of him.

 

Was he actually an important person?

[Matias]

Who is he?

 

I have honestly never heard of him.

 

Was he actually an important person?

 

Gosh yeah..he was part of a new era of disegners, his creations were world famous and wore by the most importants names in showbiz, even Celine! her RDMH's dress at AND was made by him

[Timster]

Who is he?

 

I have honestly never heard of him.

 

Was he actually an important person?

 

 

He made Celine's amazingly sexy Vegas River Deep Mountain High Dress!!

 

This is sooo sad!

[Davey84]

yeah I saw it on the news!! So sad!!

[Bell]

I just heard about it. May he rest in peace!

[vroni]

I read it on Twitter and couldn't believe it at first, but again success and money don't seem to matter... he'll be greatly missed!

[neilg]

Who is he?

 

I have honestly never heard of him.

 

Was he actually an important person?

 

 

He made Celine's amazingly sexy Vegas River Deep Mountain High Dress!!

 

This is sooo sad!

Oh wow!

 

Yes, I know the dress, but did not know he designed it.

 

My mom likes that dress - I guess it's ultra-valuable now!

[Belle Céline]

He had some beautiful clothes but his runway pieces were a bit umm.. some of them were scary looking....guess that's high fashion for you?

[ErwinG]

Who is he?

 

I have honestly never heard of him.

 

Was he actually an important person?

 

 

He made Celine's amazingly sexy Vegas River Deep Mountain High Dress!!

 

This is sooo sad!

Oh wow!

 

Yes, I know the dress, but did not know he designed it.

 

My mom likes that dress - I guess it's ultra-valuable now!

 

I didn't know who he was either ... but its so sad ... may he R.I.P.

[DoumDi]

This is really sad. RIP.

[Bellamy]

OMG. I was checking some McQueen dresses today.

[CSCfan]

OMG. I was checking some McQueen dresses today.

 

Did they fit you?

[I Love You]

I was like when I saw that. He will be missed what a talented Designer he was and his clothes amazing. :o :o

[maddie-]

I wuz getting my daily dose of fashion news 2 day and when i read about this, i am still very saddened by it :'(

i love mcqueen's clothes so much!

 

i hope his presentation in march will be stunning. That show will sure be memorable.

 

Alexander McQueen, u were truly a gifted designer w. an unimaginable imagination. everything u created was a prize dat fell from heaven...ur' influence, distinct style, and creative works of art will b 4ever missed in the world of fashion and everywhere else beyond dat...i hope ur' legacy will be carried on, and continue to inspire those searching for a guiding companion into da future of fashion

 

May you rest in peace and my thoughts and wishes goes out to his friends and family

[Krys]

such a tragic loss

[whineupemily]

[remykyes]

OMD! This was totally unexpected. What a shock! And what a great loss for the fashion industry.

[merlito]

Lady Gaga will perform @ the Brit Awards in honor of him.

[remykyes]

Coroner: Alexander McQueen died of hanging

Designer was found asphyxiated in his wardrobe, note was found nearby

updated 8:49 a.m. ET, Wed., Feb. 17, 2010

 

LONDON - A British coroner's official has told an inquest that fashion designer Alexander McQueen hanged himself in his London apartment last week after leaving a note nearby.

 

The contents of the note were not released by the coroner's office, which is charged with formally identifying the circumstances of the designer's death.

 

Coroner's officer Lynda Martindill said Wednesday the 40-year-old McQueen had died from asphyxiation and hanging. Full details of the autopsy will be available in a few months.

 

There were no suspicious circumstances in the death, and authorities suspect no malice, police detective inspector Paul Armstrong testified. After a five-minute hearing Wednesday, coroner Paul Knapman adjourned the inquest until April 28. The inquest has yet to formally rule McQueen's death a suicide.

 

Full details of the autopsy will be available in a few months, authorities said.

 

The designer died days before London Fashion Week, although he was not scheduled to show in the British capital.

Edited February 17, 2010 at 05:06 PM by remykyes

[celinerific]

That's so sad. He's a fabulous designer.

[betterone]

The sales of McQueen is 1400% than usual after his death.

 

Such a talented designer and will miss him!

 

Celine also wore the graceful dress of McQueen on the premier of "Celine, through the eyes of the world".