By Nicole Breskin and Josh Williams
DNAinfo Reporter/Producers
MANHATTAN — New York Fashion Week was rocked Thursday after legendary designer Alexander McQueen was found dead in his London home in a suspected suicide.
As New York's fashionistas were waking up to prepare for the first day of shows at Bryant Park, paramedics were called to McQueen's apartment about 10 a.m. London time, the Guardian reported.
The news broke in New York just before 11 a.m., including unconfirmed reports that McQueen, who'd reportedly grown depressed after his mother death last week, had hanged himself.
Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue reportedly stormed out of the BCBG show when she heard of McQueen's death.
"We are devastated to learn of the death of Alexander McQueen, one of the greatest talents of his generation," Wintour later said in a statement.
"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."
Fashion icons familiar with the designer and his styles echoed Wintour's sentiments as the backstages of shows, catwalks and tents at Bryant Park filled with grief.
"I am truly devastated to lose my close friend," said supermodel Naomi Campbell in a statement.
"His talent had no boundaries and he was an inspiration to everyone who worked with him and knew him. This is a sad day to all who loved him around the world and my condolences are with his family. I will miss him so much, he will never be forgotten."
Others chose to comment though their reps.
"Kate is shocked and devastated at the tragic loss of her dear friend Lee McQueen," said Kate Moss's representative, according to the Web site. "Her thoughts are with his family at this sad time. We would also ask that Kate's privacy is respected."
McQueen, who had a boutique on 14th Street in the Meatpacking District, was to reveal his upcoming clothing line at fashion week in Paris next month. He was not scheduled to present a collection at Bryant Park but his death was the talk of the event nonetheless.
“Alexander McQueen’s death is all people are talking about backstage,” said Josefin Hedstrom, a model for the Ports 1961 show. “I’m trying not too get too affected or sad, and push it out of my head when I walk.”
“It’s extremely sad," said Manhattan socialite and "The City" star Olivia Palermo. "I was a big admirer of his clothes.”
Under the tents, it seemed McQueen's cutting edge fashions would be missed as much as the designer himself.
“Alexander McQueen was my favorite designer," said Dwight Eubanks of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta." "His fall collection from 2009, I would have worn every single piece in that collection. He did the most amazing things with fabrics and textures.”
“I followed Alexander McQueen since the 1990s," said stylist Patricia Ann Parenti. "He did these amazing asymmetrical cocktail dresses. He was known because he was avante-garde.”
The Times reported that McQueen was deeply troubled by the 2007 suicide of famous stylist Isabella Blow who had discovered him. Friends said he was "devastated" by the death of his mother on Feb. 2.
Outside the tents, New York City-based designer Trea Enoch teared up when told of McQueen's death by DNAinfo.
"He was one of the greatest designers there was," Enoch said. "It's devastating I won't see anything more from him. He was a huge inspiration."
