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Mathilde Favier, Dior’s longtime public relations director and a beloved industry figure, has died in a car accident alongside her partner, film producer Nicolas Altmayer, 61. She was 57. The French brand confirmed the news on Tuesday, after reports surfaced Monday that the pair had been involved in a head-on collision.
Known for her brunette pixie cut and effervescent personality, Favier joined Dior Couture from Prada in 2011 after beginning her career in the 1980s at Chanel and later working in media at Glamour.
Upon her appointment at Dior, Favier instantly became a fixture of the brand and the Paris fashion scene. Her sister, Victoire de Castellane, has designed jewelry for the maison since 1999, and Favier worked closely with high-profile Dior ambassadors, from Jennifer Lawrence and Natalie Portman to Jisoo and Anya Taylor-Joy.
In 2024, Favier published Living Beautifully in Paris, a book recounting her bond with the city and connection to hosting and gastronomy.
Favier is survived by her two children, daughter Héloïse and son Carlo, whom she shares with former husband, finance executive Robert Agostinelli. Carlo, 23, shared an emotional tribute to his mother on Instagram, writing that his “heart is broken” and remembering her as “the embodiment of life” and “the definition of joy.”
Following the news, Dior paid its respects to Favier in a series of statements shared on social media. The house described her as an “exceptional woman” whose joy and talent were exemplary.
Stephane Cardinale – Corbis//Getty Images
Mathilde Favier and Jisoo at the Dior fall/winter 2025 show.
“With the passing of Mathilde, Dior is losing an incredible professional, and I have lost a loyal friend,” Delphine Arnault, chairperson and CEO of Dior Couture, said in a statement. Bernard Arnault, CEO and chairman of LVMH, echoed the sentiment, saying, “I was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic and sudden passing of Mathilde Favier, who devoted so many years to putting her passion, energy and talent at the service of the House of Dior.”
Dior creative director Jonathan Anderson also remembered Favier as a singularly warm and uplifting presence at the house. “I am heartbroken by Mathilde Favier’s passing. We all owe so much to her work and dedication,” he wrote. “She brought such warmth, energy, and was the most positive and uplifting person I have ever met. Mathilde was the very embodiment of elegance and, in many ways, the spirit of Couture itself.”