Explore the incredible life and universe of Yves Saint Laurent with a fashion designer
Expert:Nathalie
Experience:Explore the life and universe of Yves Saint Laurent with a fashion designer
Languages:French, English
Over a drink in a grand hotel, Nathalie will to tell you about the illustrious life of Yves Saint Laurent and share anecdotes about the scandals surrounding the artist.
Get her insights into YSL influence on haute couture and French fashion.
Set out for a visit of YSL boutique avenue Montaigne to discover latest creations.
As an option: you may ask for a private visit at the Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent for a tour of Saint Laurent’s workshop, his living spaces, and his library.
The story of Yves Saint-Laurent
Join Nathalie, a fashion expert, in a grand hotel where she will tell you about the extraordinary life of Yves Saint Laurent: his inspirations, his style, his tumultuous life and the scandals that surrounded him, his body of work and the impact it had on society and women, the evolution of the couture house and how it became what it is today… You’ll know all there is to know about Yves Saint Laurent.
Founding partner of the Yves Saint Laurent couture house, Pierre Bergé founded the InstitutFrançais de la Mode, was president of the Opéra National de Paris, and was named a Great Patron of the Arts and Culture in 2001. He created the “Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent”, an astonishing place that represents the culmination of “40 years of YSL design” and holds thousands of pieces of couture clothing, luxury accessories, sketches, drawings and a variety of objects that trace the history of his creations.
The most revolutionary fashion designer of our time
Pierre Bergé, Yves Saint Laurent’s longtime companion and business associate, summed up the power of their partnership when he said, “You have the talent. I’ll take care of the rest.” Yves Saint Laurent described it in another way: “I tried to show that fashion design is an art. In this attempt I followed the advice of my master, Christian Dior, and the timeless message of Mademoiselle Chanel. I designed for my own era and tried to predict what the future would be.”
Creating the wardrobe of the modern woman
Yves Saint Laurent created the modern woman’s wardrobe by reinterpreting classic menswear: the pea coat and the trench coat, the first tuxedo jacket, the safari jacket and the first pantsuit, among others. By embracing the codes of men’s fashion, he gave women confidence, daring and power, while enabling them to retain their femininity.
Saint Laurent paved the way for the fashion of today, which is adapted to what women want. He dressed famous actresses of his era, such as Claudia Cardinale, Sophia Loren, Jeanne Moreau, Isabelle Adjani and Catherine Deneuve, with whom he had a special friendship.
Haute couture and art: inspired by the greatest artists
In his haute couture collections, Yves Saint Laurent frequently honored artists.
There were his Mondrian dresses (1965), and his Pop Art dresses (1966).
In the1970s, he presented collections that were an homage to Picasso and Diaghilev, in the1980s he honored Matisse, Cocteau, Braque, Van Gogh and Apollinaire.
In 1983, the Metropolitan Museum of Art mounted a Saint Laurent retrospective, the first time this museum ever held an exhibition showcasing a fashion designer.
Option: Ask us for a private visit at the Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent foundation, a guided tour of the designer’s own studio, living spaces and library.
Born into the fashion and luxury goods industry
The daughter of a women’s garment manufacturer, Nathalie grew up in the fashion industry, immersed throughout her childhood in luxurious textiles, and attending professional tradeshows and runway shows from a very young age.
Ex-fashion designer in Paris
She was always surrounded by international buyers, journalists, and photographers, and she also spent time with customers. She grew to understand them and always took great pleasure in providing them with guidance. A graduate of InstitutFrançais de la Mode, she worked as a designer for a number of fashion houses.
Fashion classes in Paris
Her natural curiosity and passion for fashion led her to become a professor of Fashion History in the best French fashion schools, and to lecture frequently on the topic. What brings her the greatest pleasure is sharing her love for fashion.
What We Love
Her energy, freshness, and humor.
Her warmth and generosity
Her eagerness to share with others
What I Love
One thing I have learned in the five years I have been teaching is that sharing goes both ways. I’ve been enriched by this experience, have become even more curious, and am eager to exchange with you!
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