Ted Lapidus, the son of an émigré Russian tailor, began medical studies, then gave them up for cutting, and opened his house in 1951. In 1961 he created the cutting course of the academy in Tokyo, something no French couturier of his age had thought of doing. He dressed Bardot and Delon, and his name became a brand. His photographic portrait, stolen by an admirer, was replaced in 2025.
The story
The photographic portrait of Ted Lapidus was stolen from the stone by an admirer, then replaced in 2025. The cemetery counts several thefts of the kind — the bust of Bizet, that of the dancer Serge Peretti, Stephen Heller's palm; this one is among the few ever made good.
Born on 23 June 1929, Edmond Lapidus was the son of Robert Lapidus, a Russian émigré tailor, and of Cécile Guitine. He began medical studies, then gave them up: by 1950 he was a tailor at the Club de Paris, and he opened his own couture house the following year. In 1961 he created the cutting course of the Tokyo academy — almost unheard of for a French couturier of his generation — and entered the Chambre syndicale de la haute couture in 1963.
He dressed Brigitte Bardot and Alain Delon, and his name became a brand: the perfumes launched with L'Oréal in 1970 carried the ready-to-wear line around the world. In 1982 he handed over to his son Olivier.
He died of leukaemia at Cannes on 29 December 2008 and was buried on 2 January 2009. Five names appear on the family stele, and not a word of the trade: it is the photographs that speak.
The grave
A family stele adorned with photographic portraits, of which the couturier's was stolen by an admirer and replaced in 2025 — one of the cemetery's rare thefts to have been made good. Five names appear there: his mother Cécile Lapidus-Koral née Guitine (1908-1996), Bernard Lapidus (1910-2005), “Ted LAPIDUS 1929-2008”, then Albert Selz and Marie Selz née Guitine. The stone does not say that he was a couturier.
On site, do not miss
The photographic portraits on the family stele. Ted Lapidus's is recent: the original was stolen by an admirer, and replaced in 2025.
Visitors' questions
Where is Ted Lapidus's grave?
In Division 53, chemin de Mont-Louis, first row: a family stele adorned with photographic portraits. The couturier's had been stolen by an admirer: it was replaced in 2025. The Division is also home to Adolfo Kaminsky.
Adolfo KaminskyWas his portrait stolen?
Yes, taken off the stone by an admirer, and replaced in 2025. Père-Lachaise has seen several thefts of this kind: Bizet's bust, that of the dancer Serge Peretti, Stephen Heller's palm, Jules Danbé's. This is one of the few to have been replaced.
Serge PerettiWho did Ted Lapidus dress?
Brigitte Bardot and Alain Delon, among others. The son of a Russian émigré tailor, he had opened his house in 1951 and launched his fragrances with L'Oréal in 1970 — the name became a worldwide ready-to-wear brand.
Thierry MuglerWhat was Ted Lapidus doing in Tokyo?
In 1961 he created the cutting course of the academy in Tokyo, a step almost without precedent for a French couturier of his day. Two years later he joined the Chambre syndicale de la haute couture, the trade body of Paris couture.
Cino Del DucaAudio guide to Père Lachaise: the best unusual guided tour!
Discover the secrets of the most astonishing tombs
the audio guidefrom€6.99