Loulou de la Falaise was born and raised in a chic and free-spirited environment – perhaps the one that makes you a muse. It was the Saturday the 5th of November that WWD broke the news of her death. An impeccable woman a style icon for many among them the iconic designer Yves Saint Laurent for whom she inspired the famous female tuxedo.

Loulou owed her charming looks to her mother Maxime who was a model for Elsa Schiaparelli and branded herself as the house’s muse. She showed her unique and wild personality early on when she was expelled by several schools in the United Kingdom, Switzerland and New York, got married and divorced at 21, believing that all these added to her wild glamour! She made trendy the  bohemian chic style, which led her through her life and established her as one of the iconic fashion personas, until her last days.

Besides her daring style and jewelry design, Loulou was best known for her relationship with Yves Saint Laurent. She used to get upset when they were giving her the title ‘muse’ as she knew that it was so much more than that. Charmed with her style and attitude since their first encounter, YSL asked her instantly to work with him leading to years of close friendship in between work, parties and sometimes difficult times and he always showed his respect for her using phrases like; ‘Her presence at my side is a dream’.

Besides her work as a jewelry designer for the maison YSL, Loulou became also involved in Ready To Wear collections and accessories. After YSL’s retirement in 2002 and pass away, Loulou de la Falaise opened up several boutiques in Paris under her own name carrying her designs. Despite her loss, we can only hope these will remain open to honor her legacy and style.

Photo Credits: Wist Thorpe | Jean-Pierre Masclet/ Camera Press | Helmut Newton/ AP Photo | I want to be a Roitfeld | Vogue