France has bid farewell to fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent at a memorial service in Paris. The creme-de-la-creme from the worlds of fashion, arts and politics filled the Saint Roch church, traditionally associated with artists and musicians. Saint Laurent died on Sunday from a brain tumour. He was 71-years-old.

Hailed as one of the great designers of the 20th century, he was widely considered the last in a line of distinguished French “couturiers”, including Chanel and Dior, who made Paris the fashion capital of the world.

A poem was read out by his long-time muse, actress Catherine Deneuve, and Saint-Laurent’s long-time partner and business associate Pierre Berge gave a touching farewell speech.

After cremation, Yves Saint Laurent’s remains will be laid to rest in his Majorelle gardens in the Moroccan town of Marrakech.

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