Dior PR Director Mathilde Favier Dies in Car Accident

Mathilde Favier, the longtime public relations director for Dior's women's collections, died in a car accident on Monday that also claimed the life of her companion, French film producer Nicolas Altmayer. Dior confirmed what it described as an "accidental death" on Tuesday. She was a fixture at the house for years, managing VIP relations and on first-name terms with figures including Rihanna and Jennifer Lawrence. WWD

Favier served as international PR director for Dior women — the role that connects the brand to celebrities, stylists and editors who shape its public image. Her network spanned Hollywood and fashion at the highest level. She was also a well-known presence on social media, with an Instagram following of 242,000.

Dior lauded her as "an exceptional woman whose communicative joy, talent and loyalty were exemplary." Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of LVMH — the luxury group that owns Dior — wrote on the house's official Instagram account: "I was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic and sudden passing of Mathilde Favier." Delphine Arnault, chairman and CEO of Christian Dior Couture, added: "Mathilde loved life with a passion."

Fashion ran through Favier's family. She was the half-sister of Victoire de Castellane, creative director of Dior jewelry. Her uncle Gilles Dufour, who worked alongside Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel, secured her a teenage internship at that house — an early entry into an industry she would never leave. She published the coffee-table book "Living Beautifully in Paris" in 2024, and described herself on Instagram as the author of "Mathilde à Paris."

Favier's death removes a bridge between two worlds — the ateliers of a Paris couture house and the red carpets of global entertainment. In a role where relationships are the currency, she held some of the most valuable ones in the business. Dior had published a profile video of her on its Facebook channel on 9 August.

No further details of the accident have been disclosed.