Fashion designer L'Wren Scott, the girlfriend of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, has been found dead at her apartment in New York.
Scott, an American former model who regularly designed for celebrities including Nicole Kidman, had dated the Rolling Stones frontman since 2001 following his split from wife Jerry Hall.
Jagger is currently in Perth with The Rolling Stones On Fire national tour, which was due to begin on Wednesday.
His spokesman says the singer is "completely shocked and devastated" by the news of his girlfriend's death.
Scott's body was found in her New York apartment on Monday and US police are understood not to suspect foul play.
"A 49-year-old female was found this morning at 10.05am at 200 11th Avenue. She was unconscious," a spokeswoman for New York City Police Department said.
"She was pronounced dead on arrival by the emergency medical services.
"The investigation is ongoing. We are awaiting medical examiners to determine the cause of death."
The US media are reporting the fashion designer took her own life but say no note was found at the scene.
The Utah-born Scott had her own fashion label popular with celebrities.
Madonna was one of those who wore the dress. "This is a horrible and tragic loss," the singer said in a statement released by her publicist.
"I'm so upset. I loved L'Wren's work and she was always so generous with me."
Nicole Kidman and L'Wren were friends for 25 years and the Australian star is said to be devastated.
"Nicole is heartbroken and in shock right now and unable to say anything," a representative for Kidman told Rumorfix.com on Monday.
In 2009 Scott introduced a shoe collection, and in 2010 she collaborated with Lancome on a make-up line and a fragrance. In 2011 came a handbag line, in 2012 an eyewear collection, and late last year, a collaboration with Banana Republic for a line of affordable clothes.
Though her studio is based in London, Scott presented her runway shows in New York until recently. They were exclusive A-list affairs like few others.
Just last month she cancelled her London Fashion Week show due to reported production delays.
Scott's designs were "very (much) based on her own personal style ... a very interesting style that combined the strict and the sexy," said Valerie Steele, director of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.
"Not sexiness like body exposure, but sexiness like a very strict governess. They tended to be covered up yet form-fitting and beautifully constructed, beautifully made." Steele said Scott's clothes were "were more sophisticated than the average red carpet gown" and added that Scott "had a very precise vision of what she wanted them to look like".
Editors at top fashion magazines like Vogue and Glamour declined on Monday to discuss her influence on fashion - or anything else about her in the wake of her death.
Scott was adopted by Mormon parents and raised in Roy, Utah, which had a population of less than 10,000 at the time.
She made her way to Paris after high school where, helped by her height and striking looks, she found work as a model for some prominent photographers.
But she became more interested in working with clothes than modelling them, and eventually made her name as a top stylist in Los Angeles and also a costume designer for films like Ocean's 13.
Last month, make-up artist Bobbi Brown collaborated with Scott on a cosmetics line called the Bobbi Brown x L'Wren Scott Collection.
"I am devastated by the tragic news about L'Wren," Brown said on her website.
"She was a visionary designer who I very much enjoyed working with, but she was also smart and kind."
* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.
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