One of fashion’s most iconic muses, Loulou de la Falaise, passed away on Saturday at her country house outside of Paris, she was 63. Her background included stints as a model and a fabric designer for Halston, but she is best known as a friend and collaborator of the late Yves Saint Laurent, who once said of de la Falaise, “We exchange ideas a lot and it’s really exhilarating.”
photo: Jean-Pierre Masclet; Richard Avedon for Vogue 1970
De la Falaise inspired such iconic pieces as Le Smoking, YSL’s sheer blouses, and is often credited with influencing the late couturier’s use of color. After spending over 30 years designing jewelry (most notably chunky, bold pieces) and hats for YSL, she branched out in 2002 with her own fashion line, which included ready-to-wear, jewelry, and accessories.
The Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent Foundation announced the passing of the twice-divorced icon and it was reportedly due to a cancer diagnosis, which she received last June. De la Falaise’s relaxed, colorful, and utterly sophisticated style will no doubt serve as influence for countless years to come. Services are scheduled for November 10 at Eglise Saint-Roch, 296 Rue Saint Honoré in Paris, the same location of Yves Saint Laurent’s funeral in 2008.
Images: WWD; HSN
