Yves Saint Laurent - Style is Eternal

Yves Saint Laurent and His Muses Wearing Le Smoking: Betty Catroux, Jerry Hall and Charlotte Rampling

Few weeks ago, "Yves Saint Laurent: Style is Eternal" exhibition opened at the Bowes Museum, in collaboration with the Foundation Pierre Bergé. It is the first retrospective of Yves Saint Laurent's work in the UK with 50 of the designer's garments being displayed. The name of the exhibition originates from one of Yves Saint Laurent's statements: "Fashion fades, style is eternal."

Farfetch has invited me to join the competition on creating a complete look emphasizing the timeless style of Yves Saint Laurent and the never fading appeal "Le Smoking Tuxedo", which since 1966 has revolutionized women's evening wear.

Pierre Bergé, Yves' business and life partner once said: "If Chanel gave women their freedom, it was Saint Laurent who empowered them". As I spent significant time reading and looking at his designs, I felt reassured that his style is truly eternal and contemporary. Yves Saint Laurent crossed the boundaries between fashion and art; he reinvented traditional male cuts for modern women. As Roxanne Lowit, a fashion photographer, said: "His designs empowered women focusing on their strengths. Le Smoking was instantly popular with women because it made them feel strong and glamorous at the same time." Yves Saint Laurent had many muses who he was close friends with: from Betty Catroux,  Catherine Deneuve, Loulou  de Falaise to Jerry Hall. He promoted diversity on the runway and even Naomi Campbell said that she owed her first Vogue cover to him. When Yves Saint Laurent designed Le Smoking for women, he used the elements of men's style to empower women and give them independence.

Farfetch:

Iconic Smoking Jacket, Saint Laurent; Paris Pump, Saint Laurent; Classic Monogram Clutch, Saint Laurent;

 Diamanté Detailed Dress, Saint Laurent; Ribbon Neck Tie, Saint Laurent;

Punk Bracelet, Saint Laurent

Who is a modern Yves Saint Laurent's woman?

She is confident and self-aware. She respects fashion's traditions but also wants to be in sync with contemporary trends. She values comfort and beauty. Her outfits take her from a busy day at the office to the glamorous dinner in the evening. Like all fashion lovers, she has classic pieces in her wardrobe that will never go out of style: a black jacket ("iconic" tuxedo), a little black dress with some modern twist, a pair of black stilettos, black clutch and statement accessories that will add finishing touches to her unique look. Saint Laurent's clothes can be reinvented in multiple ways and their appeal is timeless.

For those of us, who cannot see the exhibition in person, I recommend watching the movie and the documentary (Yves Saint Laurent, 2014 and L'Amour Fou), reading the book The Beautiful Fall and looking at the amazing photos of Yves Saint Laurent and his models by Roxane Lowit.