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 Scott, a former model whose slim-fitting dresses were
favorites among Hollywood's A-list stars such as Nicole Kidman,
Amy Adams and Penelope Cruz, was found hanging from a scarf.
"We are investigating it as a suicide," said New York police
Detective Kelly Ort.
Police said they had preliminary information that Scott was 49,
although that had not been confirmed by her family.
Jagger, 70, said through a spokesperson that he was "completely
shocked and devastated." Scott's family issued a statement
asking for privacy.
The glamorous pair had been dating since 2001 and were often
seen at celebrity events, with the 6-foot, 3-inch (191-cm) tall,
raven-haired Scott towering over her rock-star boyfriend.
The news of Scott's death stunned friends, clients and fellow
designers. Kidman, a friend of 25 years, was "heartbroken and in
shock right now and unable to say anything," her spokeswoman
said.
Her death followed the untimely deaths of two giants in fashion
who succumbed to suicide: British designer Alexander McQueen,
who had suffered from depression, died in London in February
2010 at the age of 40; his close friend, British fashion editor
Isabella Blow, died in 2007 at the age of 48.
Scott became one of New York's most famous designers over the
last decade, with a sensibility that catered to women's desire
to feel powerful and sleek.
"L'Wren was a total perfectionist, someone who absolutely
embodied everything her marvelous clothes stood for: strength of
character combined with a confident and powerful style,"
long-time Vogue magazine editor Anna Wintour wrote on Vogue.com.
It was unclear if Scott had shown any signs in her work or
personal life that foreshadowed her death.
A publicist for Jagger said a New York Post story about a split
between the two "is 100 percent untrue" and "a horrible and
inaccurate piece of gossip during this very tragic time for
Mick."
The Rolling Stones are on tour, currently in Perth, Australia.
It was not known whether they would cancel their concert there,
scheduled for Wednesday.
The group's Australian publicist declined to comment on whether
Jagger and other band members were planning to return to the
United States, while staff at the Hyatt Regecy Hotel said they
had no information on the group's whereabouts or any planned
media conferences.
The Rolling Stones' private jet, emblazoned with the famous
tongue and lips logo, remained on the tarmac at Perth Airport
and showed no signs of any impending departure, according to a
Reuters witness.
Jagger's daughter, Georgia May Jagger, cancelled a planned
appearance at Australia's Melbourne Fashion Festival this week,
according to local design house Camilla, who she was scheduled
to model for.
FASHION, MUSIC WORLDS GRIEVE
New York police said a woman was found "unconscious and
unresponsive" in an apartment building in the upscale Chelsea
neighborhood. Fire officials, who responded to a cardiac arrest
call, said the woman was dead when they arrived.
Julie Bolcer, of the city's Office of the Chief Medical
Examiner, said the office had not received the body nor begun
work to determine the manner of death.
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"Given the timing, that individual will probably be examined
tomorrow and if everything is straightforward, the cause and manner
of death would be available by tomorrow," she said.
Foul play was not suspected, police said.
A single bouquet of yellow daffodils was placed in front of the
glass-fronted, high-rise building where Scott lived. Police cordoned
off its entrance as a swarm of media gathered across the street.
Musician and fashion friends of the couple took to Twitter to
express their grief.
"Devastated to have lost my friend," tweeted rocker Bryan Adams, who
has photographed Scott. "Rest in peace my dear I'm gonna miss you.
Condolences to all that were close to her."
Jagger's first wife, Bianca, said she was "heartbroken to learn of
the loss of the lovely and talented L'Wren Scott. My thoughts and
prayers are with her family."
American fashion designer Marc Jacobs said: "You'll forever be
missed."
KNOWING WHAT WOMEN WANT
Scott, born Luann Bambrough, was raised in Utah by adoptive parents.
She started her career as a model in Paris before becoming a stylist
and designer.
Her love of fashion began when she made her own clothes as a
teenager, according to her website. As a model in Paris, Scott
became more interested in making clothes than modeling them.
After moving to Los Angeles, she worked as a stylist and designed
privately before creating her own collection.
"She pushed aside interest in what was happening in fashion trends
and on the runways, and designed for women, to give them confidence
with their bodies in looks that were so beautiful," said Eric
Wilson, the fashion news director at InStyle magazine.
Her styling background proved important to who she was as a designer
and she was constantly shopping for the women she dressed.
"That experience gave her an incredible amount of ammunition when
she started designing her own clothes. She knew what worked best for
all body types," Wilson said.
She canceled a planned show for her fashion label at London Fashion
Week last month.
The last collection that she showed, in September 2013, was inspired
by Japanese culture and featured embroidery and sleek lines: white
below-the-knee dresses belted at the waist; red, black and white
skirts, shorts and jackets; a bold yellow dress and pants.
Scott collaborated with many in the fashion and beauty industry,
including Lancome for her first makeup collection, and designed
Italian-made shoes, handbags and eyewear, and a small holiday
collection for Banana Republic last year.
(Additional reporting by Victoria Cavaliere, Edith Honan, Piya Sinha
Roy and Thuy Ong; editing by Mary Milliken, Amanda Kwan, Mohammad Zargham and Michael Perry)
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