Le Dé d'Or

The Dé d’Or was once the most prestigious French fashion award. Every season, 24 journalists from around the world voted on the best haute couture collection.

However in the early 90s several houses began presenting only one couture collection per year to survive the strains of the economic crisis. Some ateliers even closed for good. In addition, the award was strictly reserved for members of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, and the French public dismayed when foreigners such as Gianfranco Ferre won the prize. As a result, many maisons boycotted the awards.

Yves Saint Laurent, who consistently rejected the strict nature of haute couture and who famously forwent the Dé d’Or ceremony from the start, released the statement: “Cela ne nous concerne pas. Nous n'avons pas changé d'opinion sur la manifestation qui s'apparente au système des chaises tournantes, et sur son intérêt. Si on nous apporte le Dé d’Or, on le mettra sur nos étagères.”

Awarded to some of the greatest couturiers in history since its inception in 1976, the final Golden Thimble award was accorded in 1990, and only revived once more in 1994.