DISPATCH FROM PARIS

The Musée Yves Saint Laurent has enjoyed great success since it opened its doors in Paris in spring, taking over the fashion designer’s former atelier in the 16th arrondissement. The inaugural display runs until September 9, 2018.

Yves Saint Laurent set up shop in a hôtel particulier at 5 avenue Marceau in 1974, working there until his retirement in 2002 when he closed down his couture house.

Under the guidance of The Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent – set up to preserve  the fashion designers legacy- the Parisian townhouse became an archive for 5,000 handmade samples that trace back more than 40 years of historic fashion creativity. The mansion re-opened and will continue to display the emblematic designs that saw Saint Laurent redefine the wardrobe of thousands of chic women.

The display includes his most radical designs including Le Smoking tuxedo, a safari jacket, his iconic trench coat and the jumpsuit with which he created a novel vision of womenswear for the latter half of the 20th century. A recreation of the designers studio, brimming with drawings, boxes of buttons and trims, scraps of fabric and finished work…all providing a vivid photograph of the life and study of a haute couture atelier. The museum’s opening was poignantly timed, coming less than a month after the death of Pierre Bergé, Saint Laurent’s business partner of more than 40 years and co-founder of the foundation. It was Bergé who raised the funds for the museum project, through the sale of his and Saint Laurent’s art collection.

/Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris 5 avenue Marceau 75116 Paris – France PARIS https://museeyslparis.com/en

A second museum opened in October this year in their beloved second home in Marrakech.

https://www.museeyslmarrakech.com/en/

The Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech holds a collection of clothing, accessories and drawings in the city adopted by the famous designer. The collection of 50 garments will be frequently rotated both to help conserve the pieces and to ensure the exhibition is ever changing. In 1996, the French couturier travelled to Marrakesh for the first time and soon bought a property in Marrakech.  He and his partner returned each year to work on his haute couture collections, the city was a distinctive inspiration through his career. One of the city’s most popular parks claims a connection to the artist and the museum shares its grounds. If you’ve visited Marrakech, I am certain you didn’t miss the electric blue Jardin Majorelle. The garden was once owned by Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé. Originally owned by the artist Jacques Majorelle, the pair bought the property to preserve it and eventually gave it to the city of Marrakesh.

Yves Saint Laurent Museum Rue Yves St Laurent, Marrakech 40000, Morocco