Yves Saint Laurent, 1936-2008
Yves Saint Laurent was a French national treasure who belonged to all of us. Le Parisien called him “the little prince of fashion.” The little prince with a gargantuan talent is too soon gone.
His work informed our style choices for 50 years. Walk past the window of a store, and chances are the styles, which we have come to take for granted, originated with YSL. Look into your own closet. Is there a pantsuit? A tuxedo (le smoking)? A safari jacket?
Consider his designs. Can anyone doubt that this was a man who loved women, this gentle revolutionary who accompanied us on the journey, through our changing roles, and who dressed us for our appearances on the stage that was newly open to us?
I have not seen a more simply moving tribute than that on the official site of the Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent. What more is there to say?
Jan del Monte, blogging from the rue du Cherche-Midi, Paris, France
© 2008 Jan del Monte
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I have just noticed that the site for the Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent is temporarily down due to too many hits.
It is definitely worth trying later.
I have an YSL jacket for forty years and had several pieces in the 60s. Wish I had kept them though I most likely not fit into them. Someone on Zuccini and chocolates posted an article with many photos of YSL.
Those are lovely photos, some of which I had seen and several of which I hadn’t.
I’ve been scooping up the newspapers, and now the magazines are starting to come out. There are some amazing photographs, and tributes by everyone.
I have a jacket, but even though it has been unseasonably cool for the last few days, I think I’d stand out in fuchsia mohair!
My daughter is in the rag trade and about 10 years I said to her one morning that I had this shocking dream – Yves St Laurant died! Well, that made my daughter spooked and she told her best friend at work called Mick (he is gay so – into this sort of stuff – most men would just give you that bored look like my husband did LOL) . Well – for many years it was a standard Joke that old Yves is still “living”!!
Ana said that when she saw his death on TV she said to my new grandson Carlos – “see your Grandmother said he would die and she must have gone over for the funeral!!” Spooky . LOL
I admired him and I think his Ballet Russe was a stand out when it cam out in the 70′s! I am sure I saw his mother on the TV broadcast of the funeral!!!
You probably did see her. She was in several pictures I’ve seen, and she looks pretty good at 95. How sad to outlive your child.
OMG Jan – I thought it was her on the TV! I remember one interview years ago and you could tell she just loved her son. It must be such a huge blow to her and she is 95! Yes – to outlive your child must be tragic.