Alexander McQueen, the celebrated and daring British fashion designer whose secondary line, McQ, was supposed to be presented at New York Fashion Week today, has been found dead in his London apartment.

A source at his office confirmed his death to the UK's Daily Mail, saying, "It is a tragic loss. We are not making a comment at this time out of respect for the McQueen family."

According to reports, the 40-year-old designer hanged himself. McQueen had weathered a lot of tragedy in recent years -- in May of 2007, his good friend Isabella Blow committed suicide, and just days ago, his mother, Joyce McQueen, died.
Known for his irreverence and unconventional runway shows -- he once featured a double-amputee model on the catwalk -- McQueen was the youngest designer to be named "British Designer of the Year," an honor he won four times, and included Sarah Jessica Parker, Rihanna and Lady GaGa among his celebrity fans.

His fashion legacy lives on in his Alexander McQueen boutiques in London, Milan, Los Angeles, New York and Las Vegas. He was scheduled to present his latest collection at Paris Fashion Week in March.