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Alexander McQueen's Fans Pay Their Respects at W. 14th Street Store

By Serena Solomon | February 11, 2010 4:34pm | Updated on February 12, 2010 9:20am
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Fashion Week attendees were shocked by the death of Alexander McQueen Thursday.
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By Serena Solomon

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MEATPACKING DISTRICT — As New York's fashion world learned of the death of eccentric and controversial designer Alexander McQueen, mourners gathered outside his W. 14th store to pay their respects.

Celebrity friends of the 40-year-old British designer, such as Naomi Campbell, were whisked into the store that stood closed with blinds drawn on W. 14th Street, between Ninth and Tenth avenues.

Other well-styled and trendy fans of McQueen left flowers, notes and took photos.

"He didn't give a damn what people thought," said an Italian fashion brand manager, Andrew Pritchard. "What he did was walking art. He took a risk."

Having bought shoes from the Alexander McQueen brand, Pritchard pointed to one of the designer's latest controversial pieces, the "Armadillo" shoe. The lobster-claw-like foot attire sports a 10 inch heel and even made the fashion world feel a little uncomfortable with its unconventional design.

Abel Ljoka and Jacqui Zhini place yellow flowers outside Alexander McQueen's store. They say yellow was often used in McQueen's collections.
Abel Ljoka and Jacqui Zhini place yellow flowers outside Alexander McQueen's store. They say yellow was often used in McQueen's collections.
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Serena Solomon/DNAinfo

McQueen also designed a shoe and clothing line for the Puma Black Label. A shop assistant from the Puma store located next to the Alexander McQueen store on W. 14th Street said the designer would visit both stores when he was in town.

"They are one of our best sellers," said the shop assistant of McQueen's Puma line that is inspired by the Puma cat and human body.

McQueen also had a showroom across the street where he would fit celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker before events.

Young designers were also grieving the death a fashion trend setter.

"He always followed his heart," said recent design school grad Jesse Wang. "He is an inspiration."

She said McQueen was a class favorite for students in her old classes.

As to the cause of McQueen's death, the New York Times is reporting suicide. The designer was due to have a show at this New York fashion week.

McQueen's personal life has been a site of concern for close friends, according to the Times. He was deeply affected by the 2007 suicide of his mentor, Isabella Blow, a stylist, as well as the Feb. 2 death of his mother, the paper reported.

An photo outside the Alexander McQueen store gives a hint to the designer's eccentric tastes.
An photo outside the Alexander McQueen store gives a hint to the designer's eccentric tastes.
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Serena Solomon/DNAinfo