Kate Spade is the second high-profile fashion designer to commit suicide in New York following the death of L’Wren Scott four years ago.
The 55-year-old’s death on Tuesday at her luxurious Manhattan apartment bears a tragic and haunting similarity to L’Wren’s 2014 suicide.
Spade, a mother-of-one, was found hanged with a scarf in the bedroom of her Park Avenue apartment not long after 10am.
Meanwhile, Scott was also found hanged with a scarf in her Chelsea home back in March 2014.
Kate Spade (left) is the second high-profile fashion designer to commit suicide in New York following the death of L’Wren Scott (right) four years ago
Scott, who was the longtime girlfriend of Mick Jagger, was 49 when she died.
But unlike her fellow designer, Scott did not leave a suicide note.
Scott, who designed clothes worn by the likes of Madonna, had suffered depression prior to her death. She was found by her assistant.
Spade’s death is still under investigation but police did confirm that the designer, known for her sleek handbags, had left a suicide note.
Her husband and business partner Andy Spade was in the apartment at the time.
It is not clear how long Spade had been dead but the medical examiner will perform an autopsy.
The couple’s 13-year-old daughter was at school at the time. Law enforcement officials said Spade’s note contained a message to the teenage girl telling her it was not her fault.
Spade was found hanged with a scarf in the bedroom of her Park Avenue apartment not long after 10am. Her husband and business partner Andy Spade was in the apartment at the time
Spade’s death is still under investigation but police did confirm that the designer, known for her sleek handbags, had left a suicide note. Her body was taken from the apartment Tuesday
‘We are all devastated by today’s tragedy,’ her family said in a statement through a spokesman.
‘We loved Kate dearly and will miss her terribly. We would ask that our privacy be respected as we grieve during this very difficult time.’
Kate rose to fame with the namesake fashion line she started in 1993 with her husband before they sold the company in 2007 so she could focus on raising their daughter Frances.
She walked away from the company a year after it was acquired from the Neiman Marcus Group for $125 million by the company then known as Liz Claiborne Inc.
Coach, now known as Tapestry, bought the Kate Spade brand last year for $2.4 billion, seeking to broaden its appeal.
Meanwhile, Spade and her husband – brother of comedian David Spade – started a new handbag company a few years ago, Frances Valentine.
She changed her name to Katherine Noel Frances Valentine Brosnahan Spade.
If you or anyone you know needs to talk, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Scott, who was the longtime girlfriend of Mick Jagger, was 49 when she died
Scott was also found hanged with a scarf in her Chelsea home (pictured above) back in March 2014