12/02/2010

Stars Pay Tribute To McQueen

Victoria Beckham has led tributes to award-winning British fashion designer Alexander 'Lee' McDonald who was found dead at his London home yesterday.

Police have said they are not treating the death of the 40-year-old acclaimed couture creator as suspicious.

Mr McDonald, whose mother died earlier this month, is believed to have taken his own life.

Speaking last night, former-Spice Girl Mrs Beckham said: "McQueen was a master of fashion, creative genius and an inspiration ... the fashion industry has lost a true great, an icon of all time."

She added: "He made all he touched beautiful and will be desperately missed."

Mr McDonald, four-times crowned British designer of the year, was described as a "modern-day genius" by British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman.

"His death is the hugest loss to anyone who knew him and for very many who didn't," she said.

Close friend and Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker said she was "shocked and overcome with grief" after hearing the news.

"Every single inspired, original, lofty, whimsical, stunning, brilliant and jaw dropping detail was Alexander McQueen. There has never been anyone like him. And there simply never will be," the actress said, speaking from New York

"God speed Lee. It has been a privilege for all of us to know you. You will be indescribably missed."

A "shocked and devastated" Kate Moss passed on her thoughts to the McQueen family, who have asked for their privacy to be respected.

Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw said Mr McQueen had made an "outstanding contribution to British fashion".

Having started his career on Savile Row, the designer rose to prominence in the mid-1990s being tagged "the hooligan of English fashion".

In 2003 Mr McQueen was honoured with a CBE from the Queen for services to fashion.

(PR/BMcC)

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