The first comprehensive overview of Yves Saint Laurent’s haute couture collections, presented through original catwalk photography.
Founded by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé in 1961, shortly after the young couturier left his post at the helm of Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent would soon become one of the most successful and influential haute couture houses in Paris. Introducing Le Smoking, the first tuxedo suit for women, in 1966, Saint Laurent also presented iconic art-inspired creations, from Mondrian dresses to precious Van Gogh embroidery and the famous Ballets Russes collection.
This definitive publication opens with a concise history of the house, followed by a brief biographical profile of Yves Saint Laurent, before exploring the collections themselves, organized chronologically. Each collection is introduced by a short text unveiling its influences and highlights, and illustrated with a gallery of carefully curated catwalk images. These showcase hundreds of spectacular clothes, details, accessories, beauty looks and set designs – and, of course, the top fashion models who wore them on the runway. A rich reference section concludes the book.
Founded by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé in 1961, shortly after the young couturier left his post at the helm of Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent would soon become one of the most successful and influential haute couture houses in Paris. Introducing Le Smoking, the first tuxedo suit for women, in 1966, Saint Laurent also presented iconic art-inspired creations, from Mondrian dresses to precious Van Gogh embroidery and the famous Ballets Russes collection.
This definitive publication opens with a concise history of the house, followed by a brief biographical profile of Yves Saint Laurent, before exploring the collections themselves, organized chronologically. Each collection is introduced by a short text unveiling its influences and highlights, and illustrated with a gallery of carefully curated catwalk images. These showcase hundreds of spectacular clothes, details, accessories, beauty looks and set designs – and, of course, the top fashion models who wore them on the runway. A rich reference section concludes the book.
Industry Reviews
'This book is testament to the brilliant legacy [Yves Saint Laurent] left behind. As he said himself, fashions fade, style is eternal' - Daily Mail
'Features a unique and engaging cast, both behind and in front of the lens, from the 1850s and into the 21st century' - HUCK
'The book's 1000 original runway photographs and text chronologically document not just the house's groundbreaking designs but also some of the magnificent locations, top models and most-interesting the press and public's reactions to the collections, from the archives of Musee Yves Saint Laurent Paris' - Tatler
'A photographic encyclopaedia of one of the 20th century's greatest creators' - The Business of Fashion
'The first comprehensive overview of Yves Saint Laurent's couture collections' - LOVE
'Forty years of haute couture design from the inimitable master who rewrote the high-fashion rules, starting with his first game-changing collection of 1962' - The Lady