Sixty years ago, Yves Saint Laurent unveiled his first haute-couture collection under his own name. Only 26 years old at the time, he quickly established himself as one of the most creative couturiers of his time. To celebrate this French fashion house, the Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent Foundation has created the event “Yves Saint Laurent in the museums”: a series of exhibitions that, until May 15, 2022, highlights the close relationship the designer had with art and literature. In a refined scenography designed by Jasmin Oezcebi, six Parisian cultural institutions have come together to open their permanent collections to the work of the designer. From one museum to the next, this indisputable figure of fashion, his creative evolution, his vision of the arts and crafts of the world are outlined. 

While the Centre Pompidou insists on the influence of contemporary art with its famous Mondrian dress, the Musée National Picasso-Paris presents the obvious influence of the Spanish artist. The Musée d’Art Moderne in Paris, meanwhile, highlights the shifting nature of his work, which balances colors, lights, and materials. At the Louvre Museum, his fascination for gold, a solar material that he will honor with the jacket adorned with “Homage to my house,” is revealed. Literature is also on the agenda in the rooms of the Musée d’Orsay: fascinated by Marcel Proust, the couturier translated this passion into the ambiguity of the clothing genre. Finally, the Yves Saint Laurent Museum closes the tour with an immersion in the house and its workshops through its archives. 

“Yves Saint Laurent at the Museums” is an extraordinary retrospective that allows us to see the capital of fashion in a different light: through the modern work of the designer and his dialogue with the arts. 

From January 29 to May 15, 2022
More information on the website: museeyslparis.com

Louise Conesa