Fred Segal dead at 87 after a stellar career as the iconic purveyor of Los Angeles fashions

Fred Segal, the man synonymous with high-end and celebrity fashion in Los Angeles, California, has died at the age of 87.

Representatives of the fashion icon confirmed his passing – of complications stemming from a stroke – on Friday, Deadline reports.  

‘In 1961, Fred Segal created a retail scene that defined Los Angeles fashion and sparked a revolutionary shift in style that has transcended the last six decades,’ a statement read.  

‘Fred Segal pioneered the shop-in-shop concept and experiential retail, resulting in a brand built on heritage, inclusivity and love that changed the face of retail forever.’ 

Fred’s distinctive and boutique-like department store Fred Segal in West Hollywood – known for its timeless red, white and blue logo – quickly became a chic and celeb-frequented fashion hub, attracting the likes of the Beatles, Elvis, Diana Ross, Farrah Faucet and Nicole Kidman, to name a few. 

His first store was located on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, but later moved to the corner of Melrose Avenue and Crescent Heights Boulevard. 

After starting off in 1961 in a 300-sq. ft. jeans-only store, his franchise would grow to encompass five locations in the LA area, with expansion as recent as 2018 to include new shops in Switzerland, Taipei, and Kuala Lumpur.

Suave icon: Representatives of the fashion icon confirmed confirmed his passing – of complications from a stroke – on Friday; seen here in August 2009 at his birthday celebration benefitting the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu Teen Center

The famous Melrose Avenue location, run by Segal’s nephew Ron Herman, is also the site of Mauro’s Cafe, a hip and very celebrity-friendly eatery drawing stars such as Selma Blair and Bruce Willis.

Fred was also a respected philanthropist, regularly hosting and attending benefits and fundraisers for the Malibu Boys And Girls Club.

His family also launched the Segal Family-United World Foundation, a private foundation that was founded in 2015 and focuses on policies and grants benefiting developing countries in Africa. 

‘In 1961, Fred Segal created a retail scene that defined Los Angeles fashion and sparked a revolutionary shift in style that has transcended the last six decades,’ a statement read; Fred seen here at a private charity event in 2009

‘[Fred] was a true artist who dedicated his life to evolving as a human being in every aspect,’ a representative for Segal said in a separate statement obtained by The Wrap. 

‘He challenged us to expand our minds and our hearts, to go deeper and to do better. He was an innovator, a forward thinker, a rule-breaker, a mentor to so many, such a lover of life and a humanitarian. Anyone who knew him felt his powerful energy. He worked his whole life to have self-love and to teach all of us to love one another. To the very end, he inspired us to never give up. He will be forever loved and celebrated.’

Segal is survived by five children, 10 grandchildren, two great grandchildren, his wife Tina and her two children and grandson. 

His family requests that mourners consider donating to the Segal Family-United World Foundation in his memory. 

Icon: Segal is survived by five children, 10 grandchildren, two great grandchildren, his wife Tina and her two children and grandson; seen in a memorial post Friday on Instagram