Yves Saint Laurent: 40 Year Retrospective Opens at the de Young

The only US showing of Yves Saint Laurent's work of the last 40 years has landed smack in the middle of San Francisco starting TODAY November 1st. The legend's work will be featured within four different themes:

• Masterful Pencil Strokes — follows his work from sketch to final garment. Within this grouping are garments that emphasize the body through slits or draping as well as a look at his masterful use of silhouette through magnified volumes in garments that defied gravity such as bubble skirts, trapeze dresses and voluminous cloaks.

• The YSL Revolution — explores how Saint Laurent’s signature garments form the foundation of contemporary fashion design from which many of today’s designers take their cues. Groupings include YSL’s outfits inspired by men’s tailoring; the repurposing of functional wear such as safari jackets and pea coats into haute couture, and what became his signature: “le smoking,” a man’s tuxedo adapted for a woman first presented in 1966. Also featured are pieces from his famous 1971 collection in which he reintroduced hyper-sophistication while the rest of the world was focused on the hippie and feminist movements.

• The Palette — known for his palette of candy-colored hues, this section demonstrates how YSL dared to use color in a way that broke the rules of traditional fashion design. Groupings here illustrate his fascination with exotic cultures such as Morocco, Russia, Spain and China as well as his use of clashing color palettes, textures, geometry, embroidery and prints.

• Lyrical Sources — features the most spectacular examples of the art of the haute couture and its many inspirations. Groupings here cite YSL’s references to history; the art world including Mondrian, Fauvism, Pop Art, and artists Picasso and Braque, literary sources such as Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde and Jean Cocteau and finally YSL’s fascination with flora and fauna through his use of prints, animal motifs, feathers, pelts, flowers and sumptuous embroidery.

(source: de Young exhibit Press Release)

With his passing earlier this year, the exhibit is a definite must see for fashionista's of every creed and style.


When: Nov. 1, 2008 - Apr. 5, 2009

Where: de Young Museum

Price: $10 general de Young admission (Free on Tuesdays) + $10 special exhibit admission

The exhibition is organized by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, in collaboration with the Pierre Bergé–Yves Saint Laurent Foundation. See you there!

(photos courtesy of FAMSF)