In 1978, Loulou de la Falaise and her husband Thadée threw an Angels and Demons Costume Ball at the legendary Parisian nightclub Le Palace. Karl Lagerfeld, Thierry Mugler and Yves Saint Laurent were there, dressed in top hats, feathered wings and an abundance of 70s sparkles as they gathered in the newly opened discoteque, Europe's answer to Studio 54. "Paris was so carefree and vibrant then," remembers Kirat Young, "and Loulou was the pied piper."
"Paris was so carefree and vibrant then and Loulou was the pied piper" — Kirat Young
Young and Falaise both played muse to Saint Laurent during the 70s, influencing the Le Smoking tuxedo that would make his name. He was inspired by Falaise's gypsy skirts, turbans and vintage treasures, collected from summers in Morroco and Chelsea antique markets. Falaise's life is celebrated in a new book by fashion authority Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni, tracing back Falaise's history from her family dynasty and luxurious upbringing, to her unique style as she became a key figure in the New York social scene.
Falaise was born of good stock – her father was a count and her mother a retired Schiaparelli model, while her uncle was Annabel's founder Mark Birley. One of the original It-girls of her time, she held Laurent, Richard Avedon and Irving Penn on a string. Her name is now synonymous with a bygone moment of excess, fashion and glamour, with Le Palace as the centrepiece. Here, we take a candid look at intimate moments caught on camera from her Angels and Demons Costume Ball, photographed by Guy Marineau and Phillippe Morillon.
Loulou de la Falaise by Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni is out now, published by Rizzoli.
Words by Mhairi Graham
