We lost an inspiring style icon this morning. Fashion designer L'Wren Scott was found dead in her apartment by her assistant at about 10 a.m. Police say it appears to be suicide, and they do not suspect foul play, but the official cause of death has yet to be determined. Scott did not leave behind a suicide note. In addition to her career as a designer, Scott was a former stylist and model and had been dating Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger since 2001.
Scott had texted her assistant around 8:30 this morning asking her to come to her apartment. When the assistant arrived, she found Scott's body and called 911 immediately. Mick Jagger is "completely shoked and devestated"by Scott's death, he said through a spokesman today.
L'Wren Scott was raised in Utah as Luann Baumbrough. After high school she moved to Paris to become a model. Later she became a stylist and designed the costumes for the movies Diabolique, Ocean's Thirteen, and Eyes Wide Shut. Scott launched her first collection in 2006, and she went on to dress celebrities for the Academy Awards, including Angelina Jolie, Penelope Cruz, and Sarah Jessica Parker. She was 49 years old.
Just as L'Wren's assistant was finding her, the designer's Facebook page had just posted what in retrospect is a poignant image: A photo by Tim Walker of a model surrounded by colorful balloons. What an ironically hopeful sight at the time of such a dark moment.
We are sad to lose such a creative and influential woman.
Please call 1-800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in case you are worried about yourself or someone else.
Image via Michael Kovac/Getty