FASHION

Iconic French hair designer dies

Saturday, January 12, 2008

The man who created 'haute coiffure', elevating hairdressing among the elite of the fashion world, has died aged 85, his family announced.

Alexandre de Paris, whose salons at chic addresses in downtown Paris continue to draw an up-market clientele thanks to a lifetime of collaboration with the biggest names in French 'haute couture', has been buried in his home town of Saint-Tropez on the Cote d'Azur.

The discreet announcement specified neither the date nor place of death for a giant of 20th century fashion -- responsible for one of the symbols of post-war French style, the 'chignon' French pleat, or bouffon.

Born Louis Alexandre Raimon, the French fashion world spoke of him in the same breath as Coco Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Hubert de Givenchy, Pierre Balmain or Jean Paul Gaultier.

Twice a recipient of France's fashion 'Oscars' in 1963 and 1969, Alexandre de Paris was awarded his country's highest honours, being made a knight of the Legion d'honneur and of the Order of Arts and Letters.

He was president of the World Federation of Hairdressing between 1978 and 1993, and honorary president of the French association for haute coiffure.

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