In Memoriam: Yves Saint Laurent 1936-2008
by habituallychic
06 . 02 . 08
When I was little, I always wanted to be a fashion designer. I used to sketch clothes and I poured over a book of designs by Yves Saint Laurent while lamenting the fact that I was too young to wear his fabulous creations or hang out at Studio 54. So I was deeply saddened to learn of his passing yesterday. As most creative types are wont to be, Yves suffered from addictions and depression but still managed to create some of the most iconic clothing of all times. We have him to thank for the safari look, the tuxedo for women, and some of the most beautiful dresses ever created.
If you want to learn more about this talented man, I suggest you read Before the Fall: Lagerfeld, Saint Laurent and Glorious Excess in 1970’s Paris by Alicia Drake and watch the haunting documentary, Yves Saint Laurent: His Life and Times, 5 Avenue Marceau 75116 Paris by David Teboul. Au revoir Yves!
In 1967, Yves Saint Laurent created the costumes for Catherine Deneuve for the film “Belle du Jour” and the two became lifelong friends.
Yves Saint Laurent with two fashion models who went on to become muses, Betty Calroux (left) and Loulou de la Falaise, outside his ‘Rive Gauche’ shop in 1969 wearing the famous safari look.
Yves was very influenced by art as seen here in his Mondrian dress from 1965.
Bianca Perez Morena de Macias married Mick Jagger while wearing a risqué Yves Saint Laurent white suit at the town hall in the French Mediterranean town of St Tropez in 1971.
“Fashion fades. Style is eternal.” Yves Saint Laurent
12 Comments
I would say Bianca Jagger was ALMOST wearing that … 🙂
That’s really said news. It reminded me the time when Freddie Mercury died – hm, nothing is going to be like it was before …
such a talent- at least he will alway be immortalized by his contributions to fashion. i wonder if we’ll see a revival of his more lavish late 70’s-early 80’s years with his passing, as his 60’s and early 70’s work has already been so thoroughly mined by just about every fashion designer working.
on a personal note, i’ve always coveted a pair of his trademark thick framed glasses- so very stylish.
He was a great designer. A major retrospective of his creations just started at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. I want to go even more now.
Lovely sentiments… Such a great loss. And I love that picture of Mick and Bianca…amazing.
This is a really good post about YSL with great choice of photos.
This was a sad day in Paris today.
he was a sweet man. i wrote on my blog about him today.
When I got transferred in Paris, I was lucky enough to find an “appartement typiquement Parisien” on Rue du Faubourg-St Honore. When I moved in the owner came around with a bag with some frames and some other bric-a brac and she forgot it. When I called her to remind her, she had no idea what she had in the bag so I had a rummage to let her know what was in it. The frames were of the cards her husband received from YSL every Christmas holidays, the now famous “Love” series. Without a second thought she let me have them (since a few months ago he had left her and the cards were of no importance to her). I still treasure them though they were never sent to me.
Paris, probably the only time in my life when I was unashamed “habitually chic”. I had to, it wouldn’t be fair for my surroundings.
BTW, reading for a while but never comment. Arabella
When I got transferred in Paris, I was lucky enough to find an “appartement typiquement Parisien” on Rue du Faubourg-St Honore. When I moved in the owner came around with a bag with some frames and some other bric-a brac and she forgot it. When I called her to remind her, she had no idea what she had in the bag so I had a rummage to let her know what was in it. The frames were of the cards her husband received from YSL every Christmas holidays, the now famous “Love” series. Without a second thought she let me have them (since a few months ago he had left her and the cards were of no importance to her). I still treasure them though they were never sent to me.
Paris, probably the only time in my life when I was unashamed “habitually chic”. I had to, it wouldn’t be fair for my surroundings.
BTW, reading for a while but never comment. Arabella
Nice post! Love the photo of Mick Jagger… if your wish board was to come true… hope that’s the version of him you get!
What a huge loss indeed. Love all the photos you posted.
On a lighter note, My WWD arrived yesterday which included a wonderful homage to Mr. Saint Laurent. They included photos of him as a young man in his studio and I had to do a double take. In one photo he looks like Austin Scarlett of all people!
Great photo montage – you chose some great shots. I was fortunate to work for Saint Laurent back in the 80s. He was probably the most graceful man I’ve ever met.
after looking at these pictures I can see where Austin Scarlett from Project Runway got his personal style…they look so similar!