Naomi Campbell, the supermodel described by McQueen as his "muse", said: "I am truly devastated to lose my close friend.

"His talent had no boundaries and he was an inspiration to everyone who worked with him and knew him.

"This is a sad day for 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."

Kate Moss, who was McQueen's "bridesmaid" when he "wed" his partner, film-maker George Forsyth, in 2000, released the following statement: "Kate is shocked and devastated at the tragic loss of her dear friend Lee McQueen. Her thoughts are with his family at this sad time."

Forsyth, who later split with McQueen, told a newspaper: "I'm completely numb. I can't believe this."

Cheryl Cole, who last year chose to wear a dress designed by McQueen to her birthday party, said: "My heart goes out to Alexander's family and friends at this unbelievably sad and tragic time.

"Fashion has lost one of its most talented and inspirational figures."



Alexandra Shulman, editor of British Vogue, referring to the designer by his given first name, said: "Lee McQueen influenced a whole generation of designers.

"His brilliant imagination knew no bounds as he conjured up collection after collection of extraordinary designs.

"At one level he was a master of the fantastic, creating astounding fashion shows that mixed design, technology and performance and on another he was a modern-day genius whose gothic aesthetic was adopted by women the world over.

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

Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of American Vogue, said: "We are devastated to learn of the death of Alexander McQueen, one of the greatest talents of his generation.

"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."



Helena Bonham Carter, the actress, whose husband Tim Burton worked with McQueen said: "It's absolutely tragic. It's just horrendous to think that someone was so devastated by his mother dying.

"I loved McQueen. Tim did some drawings for one of his shows, did a shirt with him together.

"He had such lovely vision, originality comes quite hard these days."

Victoria Beckham told a newspaper: "We have all lost a true great.

"McQueen was a master of fashion, creative genius and an inspiration. Today the fashion industry has lost a true great. An icon of all time.

"He made all he touched beautiful and will be desperately missed. My heart is very much with his family and friends at this very sad time."

John Hitchcock, managing director of Anderson and Sheppard, the Savile Row tailor where McQueen began his career, said: "We are very sad, the people he worked with are all upset about it.

"He started here when he was 16 as an apprentice learning to make jackets. He was obviously very good and had a flair for ladies' work, although we are a men's tailors.

"He had potential, other people saw that in him and he went on to bigger things, it was marvellous. Either you've got the eye or you haven't in fashion.

"Most ladies have worn something inspired by McQueen. I would like to say thank you to him for his influence in giving young people an interest in tailoring."



Ben Bradshaw, the Culture Secretary, said: "Alexander McQueen made an outstanding contribution to British fashion.

"His extraordinary talent and creativity mean that his designs are adored not just by followers of haute couture but lovers of great style everywhere.

"This is a great loss to one of Britain's most successful industries and to the design world more widely."

Fellow designers also paid their tributes. A spokesman for Dame Vivienne Westwood, the fashion designer, said she was "incredibly sorry" to hear the news.

Karl Lagerfeld said: “I only knew him very little but I knew his work well.

“I found his work very interesting, never banal”.

But, he added: “There was always a bit of an attraction to death, it was a bit dehumanised.”

“Who knows, perhaps by constantly flirting with death, death ends up attracting you,” he said.

Zandra Rhodes said: "First of all it's a tremendous shock, and more than anything it reveals to me the terrible pressures that anyone in the fashion world, even if they are spectacularly succesful, are under. The pressure is always there.

"I think I would put him up there with the top group of designers. He produced some extremely succesful shows."



Sir Paul Smith told Drapers magazine: "Obviously, like everyone, I am extremely shocked at this sad news.

"I have known Lee since his time at Central Saint Martins and gave him advice in the early part of his career. He was a very talented and creative designer, especially in respect of his tailored clothing. This is a very sad time and my thoughts are with his family."

Matthew Williamson said: "I am shocked and deeply saddened by McQueen's death. He was a genius and his talent was second to none.

"Like many others, I always cited him as a hugely inspirational leader of world fashion. He will be greatly missed."

Katharine Hamnett added: "He was a genius. What a terrible, tragic waste."

Sophie Ellis Bextor, the singer, said McQueen was "incredibly talented".

She said: "It's very shocking. It's sad when anyone feels that alone but particularly someone who is so talented and seemingly has so much to live for. I'm just thinking of his friends and family."



Bill Nighy, the actor, said: "I was an admirer of his and he was a very, very gifted man. It's a terrible tragedy."

Myleene Klass, the model and TV presenter, said she McQueen would be remembered for "the life he lived, not how he died".

She added: "I am a huge fan. It's a really, really sad day. I've only just started out as a designer myself and the guy was a huge inspiration.

"It's so tragic. He was a fantastic representative of our country and the fashion industry so it's exceptionally sad."

Jonathan Ross, the presenter, said: "It's horrible news. I never knew him but I thought he was an inspirational, brilliant designer. He was one of the best that we had."