=(

I'd hate this to be turned into an obit column of folks I admire but I will come back and fill it with more whimsy/self deprecation/spotted coolness later. I promise.

Via NY Mag

The Daily Mail is reporting that Alexander McQueen committed suicide. The British paper says the designer was found dead at his flat in London, and is believed to have hung himself. His mother had died a few days earlier. A source at McQueen's office confirmed the suicide, saying, "It is a tragic loss. We are not making a comment at this time out of respect for the McQueen family." Details of his death have not been released yet. McQueen, who was discovered by Isabella Blow, was extremely close to the fashion editor. Blow killed herself in 2007.

McQueen was widely considered to be a genius in the industry. His whimsical designs moved many editors to tears; often the showmanship of his collections pushed them to feel something beyond mere fashion. He dropped out of school at 16 to learn tailoring on Savile Row, and it's tailoring that set his designs apart (his skill set was touted as the best in the industry). After he showed his degree collection at Central Saint Martins in London in 1994, editor Isabella Blow bought the entire line, cementing her role as his mentor. When Blow committed suicide, McQueen dedicated his spring 2008 collection to her.

vogue editor Anna Wintour has issued a statement on the passing of Alexander McQueen:

"We are devastated to learn of the death of Alexander McQueen, one of the greatest talents of his generation. He brought a uniquely British sense of daring and aesthetic fearlessness to the global stage of fashion. In such a short career, Alexander McQueen's influence was astonishing — from street style, to music culture and the world's museums. His passing marks an insurmountable loss."

Damn.