By Jennifer Hillman, Staff Writer

New York City was a buzz with news during the start of Mercedes-Benz Fashion week on February 11. The news wasn’t about the latest trends or the celebrities sitting in the front row, it was about the tragic death of one of their fellow designers.

The man behind Alexander McQueen, Lee McQueen, known for his bold choices in his collections, was found dead at his London home on Feb. 11, 2010.  

In a statement from his family, they would not comment on what caused his death.

“At this stage it is inappropriate to comment on this tragic news beyond saying that we are devastated and are sharing a sense of shock and grief with Lee’s family.

There is speculation that McQueen took his own life, but it would not be confirmed.

His death came as a sudden surprise. He was forty years old. Those closest to him could only name that the death of his mother, Joyce McQueen, on February 2 who was his biggest supporter, had affected him greatly.

According to leading fashion writer Hilary Alexander of “The Daily Telegraph,” one of the major newspapers in the UK, wrote, “When his adored mother, Joyce, died, leaving him so desolate that, it seems, he could not face the future.”

Philip Treacy, a friend of McQueen’s, told “The New York Times” that, “He [McQueen] was a fragile person with a front of whatever you want to call it. It’s not easy being Mr. McQueen. We’re all human. His mum just died. And his mum was a great supporter of his talent. I don’t really know what happened.”

There was also word that on top of his mother’s death, he still suffered from the suicide of his close friend Isabella Blow, who helped launch his career. Blow died in May 2007.

After the death of McQueen, The Promenade, one of the main areas where the shows are held at Fashion week, had a moment of silence for him, followed by a dimming of lights.  In London’s up-market Bond Street where McQueen’s main store was, the windows were blackened.

McQueen’s designs were seen on the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker during the promotion of “Sex and the City: The Movie” and on Lady Gaga who was McQueen’s latest unofficial muse.

An Alexander McQueen design (Photo courtesy of style.com)