nº103 / MATHILDE FAVIER / PARIS

Monday afternoon, 17 August 2026.

Two emblematic figures of French cinema and fashion are heading in a speeding car to Île de Ré, in the Deux-Sèvres department. The rest is sad news.

Review by Zoltan Alexander

HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART? Mathilde Favier, a shining star, leaves us wondering…

The factual reality.

Cut back to Monday afternoon. A severe accident occurs on the road of Airvault, between Thouars and Parthenay. Shortly after, the public prosecutor's office of Niort releases the identities of the two victims. Their Mini is struck by a truck coming from the opposite direction.

Mathilde Favier, Nicolas Altmayer.

PHOTO / Countryside, France / Photo © Courtesy of Zoltan Alexander

It is certainly not these words I had in mind when we were recently planning with Mathilde an interview for the magazine. Life is unpredictable.

I cannot stop thinking of Godard’s movie Le Mépris, although the couple had nothing in common with that story. A wonderful couple, emblematic, global success of French cinema and fashion.

Mathilde Favier (57), Dior Couture’s longtime director of public relations.

Nicolas Altmayer (61), film producer, mentor, and father of four.

He ran the production company Mandarin alongside his brother Éric. The man who preferred to work behind the scenes financed landmark productions such as OSS 117, Fabien Marsaud’s Patients, Monsieur Aznavour, Ma vie scolaire, worked with François Ozon, Saint Laurent by Bertrand Bonello, and many others.

… and Mathilde? Ahhh Mathilde !

An exceptional woman whose radiant beauty, joy, talent and loyalty were exceptional. Her smile. Her impeccable jeans and couture style.

PHOTOS / Mathilde Favier at Librairie 7L, Paris / with friend Marisa Berenson / Photo © Courtesy of SAY WHO and Favier Family

“Mathilde was the very embodiment of elegance and in many ways, the spirit of Couture itself. I am heartbroken.” Jonathan Anderson / Dior

Mathilde managed the public relations and couture at Dior with celebrities from around the world for over a decade, and her talent shone through everyone.

She also published the book Mathilde à Paris, but in reality, she was PARIS, herself. Occasionally, but certainly very rarely in art, literature, or fashion, there is a powerful person, a powerful woman, who shines through everything and we carve her name in stone. Paris would not be Paris without them. That’s Mathilde.

She also founded the association Esthétique & Cancer, which aims to restore confidence in those affected by the disease through beauty and self-care. Later, she spoke openly in several interviews about her own battle. She survived.

"It is with immense sadness that we learned of the passing of our dear Mathilde Favier, who died in a terrible road accident alongside her partner, Nicolas. Mathilde was an extraordinary person. Her infectious joy, optimism, courage, commitment, and loyalty were exemplary. She so perfectly embodied the Dior Woman... We will sorely miss her energy, her smile, and her elegance," Delphine Arnault / Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of Christian Dior Couture / Director of LVMH

PHOTOS / Mathilde Favier / son Carlo Agostinelli / daughter Héloïse Agostinelli / Photos © Courtesy of Favier Family

No matter how hard we try, nothing describes the life of Mathilde Favier better than three people: her brother-in-law Paul-Emmanuel Reiffers, her daughter Héloïse Agostinelli, and her son Carlo Agostinelli:

 

”Ma maman.

Mon monde. Mon éternité.

Ma pire peur s’est produite. Tu n’es plus là. Je n’ai pas les mots pour exprimer la souffrance que je subis. Nous avons tellement traversé de choses ensemble. Comment vivre sans toi ? Comment réapprendre à sourire sans toi ?Tu étais la meilleure des mamans. Tu nous aimais, Carlo et moi, plus que tout au monde, et j’espère au plus profond de moi-même que, de là où tu es, tu es consciente du vide que tu laisses en nous quittant.

Tu ne me verras jamais me marier, tu ne rencontreras jamais mes enfants. Mais sache que ma fille s’appellera Mathilde. Elle aura tes yeux, ton sourire, ta joie de vivre. Elle sera la plus chanceuse de toutes les petites filles, car elle aura une grande étoile au-dessus d’elle qui veillera sur elle ainsi que sur nous tous. Et je sais que c’est toi qui me l’enverras.

Carlo et moi ne nous lâchons pas. Tu as élevé un grand homme. D’une force et d’un courage qui me dépassent. C’est le plus beau cadeau que tu aies pu me faire.Ceci est le début de beaucoup de lettres et de mots que je t’écrirai tout au long de ma vie, jusqu’au jour où j’aurai la chance inouïe de me retrouver à tes côtés.La lune et le soleil brillent si fort depuis que tu es partie. Je t’aime plus que tout au monde, ma petite Moon.

Repose en paix, mon ange éternel, auprès de Nicolas, l’homme que tu as aimé jusqu’à la fin et qui, je le sais, était fou de toi.

Je t’aime, je t’aime, je t’aime… Je ne le répéterai jamais assez.

Héloïse”

/ Héloïse Agostinelli

“Dear Mathilde,

I never could have imagined having to write these words one day. I am devastated, as are we all. You leave behind an immense void.

We met when you were 18, and I was marrying your older sister, Victoire. I had the privilege of sharing so many moments with you and being part of this wonderful, warm, and loving family. You were my sister-in-law, my children’s aunt, the mother of my godson Carlo, and — above all — an angel to the family. So many memories will remain forever etched in our hearts.

Your elegance, your passion for life, and your love for others will live on forever in our memories. And now that Nicolas has gone with you, we will look after Carlo and Héloïse — along with Boni, Stan, and Jules — as well as your mother, your sisters, your uncle, and the entire family. I promise you that.

We will miss you so much.

Rest in peace, Mathilde, with your angel Nicolas.

I love you.

Paul” 🤍 🤍 

/ Paul-Emmanuel Reiffers

“Maman,

My heart aches, and my brain is foggy. None of this makes sense, and I struggle to understand how any of it ever will. You were the incarnation of life, the definition of joy, and so much more than words could ever do justice. You loved and were loved more deeply than I think any of us will ever be able to understand.

Life works in such unpredictable and mysterious ways, but as you always taught me, trust life’s plan, trust destiny, and let the rest take care of itself.

All I can say for now is thank you. Thank you for being such an incredible role model. Thank you for instilling in me the values that will remain at the core of who I am forever. Thank you for being the definition of what a mother should be and so much more. You were our superhero, and you always will be.

I am strong because you taught me to be. Heloise is with me, and always will be. Your beloved family, your sisters, your mother, your nephews and nieces, and all the friends who loved you so deeply are together, holding each other close, and we always will be. You spent your life surrounding us with love, and that love will keep us together now. You don’t need to worry about us, Maman. We will look after one another, just as you always looked after all of us. I will make sure of it.

I’ll carry every lesson you taught me for the rest of my life, and I’ll make it my life’s work to live in a way that will make you proud. I’ll make everything you gave me, everything you taught me, and every sacrifice you made count. That’s my promise to you and to the world.

Sleep well, Mamounette. I will love you forever, until we are reunited.

Carlo"

/ Carlo Agostinelli

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INDEX

In memory of Mathilde Favier / Nicolas Altmayer 

COVER

Photo © Courtesy of Zoltan Alexander

Cover design © ZOLTAN+MEDIA Paris