Couture designer Gérard Pipart dies

Gérard Pipart, the designer of Nina Ricci couture for more

than 30 years, died on Friday at the age of 79 following a long illness, French fashion's governing body said over the weekend.

Pipart started his fashion career at Pierre Balmain at the age of 16, and worked for a number of fashion houses including Givenchy, Jean Patou and Chloe, before joining Nina Ricci in 1964 as its chief designer.

Didier Grumbach, the president of France's fashion governing body, Fédération Française de la Couture du Prêt-à-Porter des Couturiers and Créateurs de Mode, said of the designer: "He was a central figure at a pivotal moment for fashion. He was considered at the time as one of the most talented designers. He was extremely inventive and creative, and broke with accepted codes of the time."

Pipart’s funeral will take place on July 3.