Yves Saint Laurent: Love Me Forever

 “Without an elegance of the heart, there is no elegance.”

~ Yves Saint Laurent 

During our winter break in December, I claimed one of my Christmas presents, a trip/event of my choice, and chose to spend a day in Seattle and visit an exhibit that intrigued me ever since I first heard about it - Yves Saint Laurent: The Perfection of Style at SAM. I did not know much about this world famous designer, so I spent some time reading about his life, but the impressions about him as a person and artist, really came to life after visiting the museum. I have to say it was one of best museum exhibitions I've seen - very detailed, educational and simply enchanting. I selected 17 photos from well over a hundred that Justin took at the museum, feeling inspired by the exhibit as well. If you'd like to see more photos, I created a video (photo album) on YouTube, which you can find at the end of my post, where I also posted a few of my outfit pictures. I hope you enjoy!

Yves Saint Laurent is credited with revolutionizing the world of fashion on quite a few levels. He was the one who at the age of 21, took over the House of Dior in 1957, but as he admitted later, he "lived in a constant state of anxiety" ever since and was fighting depression for many years later in life. The introduction of an iconic trapeze dress in 1958 (seen above, on the very first photo of the exhibit), both a pea coat and a trench coat as part of his 1962 collection, and pantsuits for women in the late 1960s were only a few his creation that changed our outlook on fashion and style forever. He was also the first designer to open a ready-to-wear boutique in 1966, a move followed later by all other designers. He was a great admirer of art and admitted that he learned colors from Matisse. He loved theater and since childhood created costumes for plays that he showed to his family - later there were works for real shows and movies. But what this exhibition made especially clear to me was that Yves Saint Laurent, who was in so many ways a visionary, leader and trailblazer, is the one we should thank for making style more personal and more expressive. Before him, it was all about "a look", about being "well-dressed". He made it about expressing a personality through outfits. And that is exactly what so many of us do and document in our blogs. 

Find more photos from the exhibit in my video:

I was especially taken with bold colorful outfits, with rich golden ones and with a fantastic collection of jewelry. It was wonderful to see Russian-inspired designs (if I remember right, YSL was also the first couture designer who visited the USSR). I absolutely loved seeing all the sketches and collection boards (something he learned from Dior), as well as learning about the creative process, including working in an atelier. First, a clothing item was created from plain canvas, and only after at least three fittings with a model (who often were St. Laurent's inspiration, sometimes he even skipped sketching, and went straight into playing with fabric on a particular model), the work with the chosen fabrics began, which he often designed himself too - he was known for bold prints. 

 Little did I know that Yves Saint Laurent's first favorite color was black, and even to the question whether it's possible to look elegant on a budget, he suggested a black sweater, a black skirt and... a man who you love on your arm. It was my recipe for the day too - only a black silk jumpsuit instead of a sweater and skirt, and Justin and Anya on both arms. And as it was a cold day, I wore my faux fur coat (got a few compliments in the museum and at a little millinery shop that we visited later) with contrasting hat and scarf. The sculpture of Hammering Man is located right in front of the museum (I didn't know that there are a few of them installed around the world), and the photo of the Seattle skyline was taken from West Seattle later that day.

But from everything I learnt about this gifted designer, I have a strong feeling that with all his fame, tremendous success and even epatage, he remained a very sensitive, vulnerable soul. "Love me forever" were the words on one of his colorful dresses. 

"The most beautiful clothes that can dress a woman are the arms of the man she loves. But for those who haven’t had the fortune of finding this happiness, I am there..." 

"The most beautiful makeup of a woman is passion. But cosmetics are easier to buy..." 

The word "love" floats from one interview to another. It seems it is always there, on the back of his mind, perhaps something he saw a lack of in the world and suffered a lot because of it. 

"Love me forever."  

As if it was the message of his life's work.

Photos by Justin

Jumpsuit - Beth Ditto (clearance)

Boots - Born (old)

Coat - Boden (last winter)

Hat, scarf and necklace - Lane Bryant (old)

Earrings - from Russia, very old

Bracelet and ring - boutique, Justin's gift

Linking to Visible Monday

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