Jacques Rouët

"Fifteen days before his death, Christian Dior had said to Jacques Rouët: “Yves Saint-Laurent is young, but he has immense talent; in my last collection, the one from July 1957, I estimate that of one hundred eighty models, there are thirty-four of which he is the father. I think the time has come, for my prestige will not suffer, to reveal him to the press.”"

"First the congratulations and encouragements, Jacques Rouët testifies: “He always had a deep respect for creation and always paid great attention to it. He believed that prestige would come from the creator’s freedom. He was not afraid if a collection did less well. He always supported all collections because he believed that the creator needs to be supported.” The couturier sometimes receives a few observations, always very courteous. This very strict gentleman does not like seeing models in shows whose designs reveal bare breasts, recommending always “not to do like the Rue d’Aboukir!”"

"Without these initiatives questioning Jacques Rouët’s management, Boussac becomes more involved in the life of the great house. He decides to give the direction of fur to Frédéric Castet, although his resignation had been accepted by the London boutique where he was in charge of ready-to-wear, an area Boussac has always looked down upon: “You had harnessed a thoroughbred to a cart,” he says. He orders certain renovation works, encourages those with problems to come and talk to him, etc. Dior has become his favorite child."