ALEXANDER MCQUEEN IS DEAD

Alexander McQueen, fashion designer, dies at 40

Thursday, February 11, 2010; 12:46 PM
Alexander McQueen, one of Britain's most successful fashion designers, was found dead today at his home in London after committing suicide on the eve of his mother's funeral.

The 40-year-old was found hanged at his flat in Green Street, Mayfair, shortly after 10am today. Paramedics were called but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Speculation mounted tonight that McQueen had been unable to come to terms with the death of his mother, who died on February 2 and whose funeral is to be held in East London tomorrow.

The designer announced her death to his followers on Twitter and admitted later that he was finding it hard to cope.
His death comes three years after McQueen's close friend and mentor, Isabella Blow, a magazine editor and style icon, took her own life by drinking weedkiller.

A spokeswoman for the designer said: "Mr McQueen was found dead this morning at his home. We’re devastated and I hope you understand that out of respect to his family and his colleagues we’re not going to be making any further statement."

His death comes just days before London Fashion Week, which is due to open on February 19, and as final preparations were being made to unveil a spring collection in Paris.
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McQueen's death comes just as designers in New York have begun unveiling their fall 2010 collections. McQueen was scheduled to show his line in Paris in March.