The fashion and film worlds are mourning the tragic deaths of Mathilde Favier and Nicolas Altmayer, who died in a car accident, leaving behind family, friends and colleagues across the industries they helped shape.
Favier, a prominent figure at Dior, where she served as public relations director for womenswear, was known throughout the fashion world and counted some of its biggest names among her friends. Altmayer was a respected French film producer.
© carlo_agostinelli/IGIn the wake of the tragedy, Favier’s children, Carlo and Héloïse Agostinelli, have broken their silence, sharing deeply personal tributes to their mother and offering a glimpse at the close bond they shared with her.
Carlo Agostinelli remembers his mother:
Carlo shared a lengthy letter addressed simply to “Maman,” opening up about the disbelief and grief he has experienced since his mother's death.
© carlo_agostinelli/IG“My heart aches and my brain is foggy. None of this makes sense, and I struggle to understand how any of it ever will,” he wrote. “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,” Carlo continued.
© carlo_agostinelli/IGDespite his grief, he reflected on one of the lessons his mother had instilled in him throughout his life. “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.”
Carlo, whose father is businessman and private equity investor Robert Agostinelli, went on to thank his mother for the influence she had on the person he became.
© carlo_agostinelli/IG“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,” he wrote.
“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.”
A promise to his mother:
Carlo also spoke about his sister Héloïse and reassured his mother that the family would continue looking after one another.
© carlo_agostinelli/IG“I am strong because you taught me to be. Heloise is with me, and always will be,” he wrote, adding that Mathilde’s family and friends were together and “holding each other close.”
“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.”
He then made an emotional promise about how he intends to carry his mother's legacy forward.
© carlo_agostinelli/IG“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,” Carlo wrote. “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.”
He ended his tribute with the words. “Sleep well, Mamounette. I will love you forever, until we are reunited.”
Carlo accompanied his message with personal family photos, including memories with his mother and Altmayer, who had been in a relationship with Favier for several years.
Héloïse shares her heartbreak:
Héloïse also broke her silence following her mother's death, sharing a shorter but equally devastating message with her followers.
© Victor Boyko“I have no words to describe the pain I am in. My mom was my entire world. My life ended the day she took her last breath,” she wrote.
She also thanked those who had reached out to the family, explaining that she was struggling to respond amid her grief.
© Bertrand Rindoff Petroff“I thank you all of your beautiful and heartfelt messages. I feel too weak and overwhelmed to respond to everyone,” Héloïse wrote.
She then shared the heartbreaking words. “I’m hoping this is just a bad dream and I will wake up soon. Life is violent and unfair.”
© Pascal Le SegretainHéloïse concluded her message in French, writing to her mother, “Je t’aime ma maman, ma moon, ma vie entière. Reposes en paix mon ange éternel,” expressing her love and describing Mathilde as her “moon,” her entire life and her eternal angel.
A final private exchange:
Héloïse also shared a screenshot of an intimate WhatsApp exchange with her mother, revealing the loving words they exchanged with each other.
“I love you so much, my child. So much. You can’t even imagine,” Mathilde wrote in French in the message Héloïse shared. “Be happy, my beloved little princess. You are finally giving yourself the means to be, and you will be fully and peacefully. Your maman.”
© Héloïse Agostinelli/IGHéloïse had responded: “I love you more than anything, moon. I’m so lucky to have you so close to me. Good night, see you tomorrow, I love you,” followed by four red heart emojis.
The private exchange offers a particularly poignant glimpse into the close relationship between mother and daughter following Mathilde’s sudden death.
An outpouring of support:
Messages of support have continued to pour in for the family from figures across fashion, entertainment and European society.
Among the prominent names who have publicly expressed their condolences are Miranda Kerr, Elle Macpherson, Marion Cotillard, Linda Evangelista, Claudia Schiffer, Naty Abascal, Victoria de Marichalar, Alex Rivière-Sieber and Talita von Fürstenberg.
© WWD via Getty ImagesFor Carlo and Héloïse, however, their messages have remained centered on the woman they knew not as an influential figure in fashion, but simply as their mother.
As Carlo wrote in his farewell, “You spent your life surrounding us with love, and that love will keep us together now.”
