Have We Ever Left Each Other Before? The Funeral of Yves Saint Laurent

France held funeral services on Thursday for Yves Saint Laurent,
who was regarded by some as the finest fashion-designer
of the last half of the 20th century

Thousands of Parisians came to say goodbye

Culture Minister Christine Albanel, President Sarkozy,
his wife and former model Carla Bruni, Pierre Berge,
and Saint Laurent's mother (in white scarf) Lucienne Mathieu-Saint-Laurent
with the coffin in front of the church

Pierre Bergé salutes Mr. Saint Laurent's coffin

Pierre Berge and Yves Saint Laurnet remained business associates and friends long after their romance ended. They decided to create a civil union together in the days before Mr. Saint Laurent died, Mr. Bergé said. The French union, known as a “civil pact of solidarity,” carries mutual rights and responsibilities, similar to that of a marriage.
“It’s going to be necessary to part now,” Mr. Bergé said, addressing his friend in the coffin. “I don’t know how to do it because I never would have left you. Have we ever left each other before? Even if I know that we will no longer share a surge of emotion before a painting or a work of art, all that I know.”
Mr. Bergé’s voice broke. “But I also know that I will never forget what I owe you, and that one day I will join you under the Moroccan palms.”

John Galiano

Catherine Deneuve

Valentino
(that is not Karl Lagerfeld with him)

Catherine Deneuve

Karl Lagerfeld did not attend
but sent white roses and orchids
"A token of our time together..."