Promenade: Yves Saint Laurent's Paris

Yves Saint Laurent was an amazing designer, and a powerhouse in the late 20^th century. The Foundation Pierre Bergé- Yves Saint Laurent website says it best, by saying, “by making use of masculine codes, he brought women self-assurance, audacity and power, whilst preserving their femininity. These clothes are part of the 20th century history. They have accompanied women's emancipation in every domain, be it personal, social or political.”

As someone interested and passionate about fashion and style, when it comes to women’s clothing, Yves Saint Laurent is king. He is the basis and the inspiration for many of today’s designers. Women all over the world wear his chic and flattering clothing. Though I personally do not own and Yves Saint Laurent garments, I appreciate him for being one of the most important designers of the 20^th century. He turned heads making the safari look popular, revolutionized women’s wear by introducing the tuxedo (Le Smoking) and was one of the first designers to use African Models on the runway. His standard of excellence was unparalleled, making his garments precise and perfect. I absolutely love Yves Saint Laurent and his clothing line, and I think even though he has now passed away, his legacy will continue in the world of fashion, inspiring little girls everywhere to dress chicly no matter where they are going.

The first stop is:

Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne

119 Rue Réaumur

75002 Paris, France

Saint Laurent was born on August 1, 1936 in Algeria, He displayed early promise in 1953 at age 17 by winning a cocktail dress design contest. A year later he enrolled in fashion school at the École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. Christian Dior spotted him three months into his education and was so impressed with Saint Laurent that he hired him to work at his fashion house, thus ending Yves Saint Laurent’s formal education. However, this school is the premier institute in the field of fashion design. The Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture created this school in 1927 for the training of making high end couture garments. Couturiers and Fashion Designers have constantly attached considerable importance to the provision of technical training for the highly-qualified personnel needed to design products with highly-complex structures, to the fostering of new talents and to the durability of their labels through fashion various evolutions. Some of the renowned designers that graduated from the school include: Adeline André, Issey Miyake, Stéphane Rolland, and Valentino.

Head west on Rue Reamur towards Rue Leon Cladel and turn left on Rue Vivienne. Take a right on Rue des Petit Champs and then a left on to Rue de Richelieu. Take a right on to Rue Saint Honore to reach the next stop.

Eglise St. Roch

296 Rue Saint-Honoré

75001 Paris, France

This is where Yves Saint Laurent’s funeral was held on June 5^th, 2008. Saint Laurent died at the age of 71 after being diagnosed with brain cancer for a year. Over 1000 mourners gathered to pay their respects, including many designers and celebrities. Christian Lacroix, Jean Paul Gaultier, Valentino, Hubert de Givenchy, and Alber Elbaz were a few fashion names in attendance, along with big names such as President Sarkozy and Carla Bruni, Catherine Deneuve, and Claudia Schiffer. Many women in attendance wore trouser suits (Le Smoking) in homage to Saint Laurent's revolutionary design. Saint Laurent was cremated before close friends and family, and his ashes were sent to a garden in Marrakesh at a house he bought with Pierre Bergé (his lifetime business partner and lover).

After leaving the church, head northwest on Rue Saint Honore (towards Rue Saint Roch) and continue on to Rue du Faub Saint Honore, where your next destination will be in about 900 meters.

A Boutique! Treat Yourself!

32 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré

75008 Paris, France

Get swept away in the world of Yves Saint Laurent as you walk in the doors. As his muses include chic women like Somali supermodel Iman (whom he once described as his "dream woman.") and French actress Catherine Deneuve, you know that the clothes that bear the Yves Saint Laurent name represent timeless grace and elegance.

Yves Saint Laurent designed his couture collections until his retirement in 2002, when he closed his Couturier. Rive Gauche (the prête-a-porter line) was designed by Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz for three seasons starting in 1998 and then by Creative Director Tom Ford. Saint Laurent criticized Ford’s aesthetic for being too sexually provocative in regards to the clothing design. The current designer is Milan-born Stefano Pilati.

The Gucci Group bought the Yves Saint Laurent brand in 1999. The Gucci Group also owns the Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Bottega Venetta, Boucheron, Gucci, Sergio Rossi, and Stella McCartney labels. At his final show in 2002 at the Pompidou Centre, around 2,000 attendees (and the several thousand more outside in front of a giant screen) witnessed a career summation without comparison—a tour through 40 years of fashion. Saint Laurent showed highlights from his entire career: pieces from his first show (a pea coat and trousers), Le Smoking, Safari Dresses, as well as the huge hits like the Mondrian dress and the nude backed dress.

In 2007, French President Nicolas Sarkozy awarded Saint Laurent the rank of Grand Officier de la Légion d'Honneur.

From the Boutique, head back in the direction from which you just came and take a right on to Rue Royal, then another right onto Champs Elysee. Enjoy the stroll under the trees, and then take a left on to Avenue Montaigne, where your next destination will be on the left!

House of Dior

30 Avenue Montaigne

75008 Paris, France

Yves Saint Laurent took the helm of House of Dior at only 21, when Dior died. He introduced the trapeze dress in his first collection for Dior in 1958, reinventing the name of the House of Dior and launching himself into stardom at the same time. St. Laurent worked at Dior until he opened his own haute couture fashion house with Berge in 1962, with the first show on January 30^th. Yves Saint Laurent met Pierre Bergé in 1958 while still working at Dior.

From Dior, continue down Avenue Montaigne until you reach the Alma Bridge. Take a right on to Avenue du President W. Wilson, then take an immediate right on to Avenue Marceau.

Foundation

5 Avenue Marceau

75116 Paris, France

When Yves Saint Laurent bowed out of designing in 2002, he reopened his fashion house as this foundation, exhibiting Picasso and Warhol paintings with the dresses they closely inspired. Every sketch and every garment was catalogued, and many famous women and friends donated some of their garments to add to the collection. At The Foundation Pierre Bergé - Yves Saint Laurent, over 5,000 garments, 1,000 rive gauche models, 15,000 accessories and 35,000 sketches that bear witness to Yves Saint Laurent's creativity are conserved.

This heritage is kept in rigorous museum conditions: a constant temperature of 18 degrees, 50% humidity, dust-free storage cabinets, acid free archive boxes. The conservation areas are not open to the public, but may be viewed on private group tours booked in advance. What you can see here are temporary exhibits that change every few months, most with themes related to the fashion house. The current exhibition is called “Saint Laurent Rive Gauche” and is 35 Euro (which includes entrance to his gardens). The exhibition shows many of Saint Laurent’s prêt-a-porter collection.

Tues.-Sun. 11-6 (Late night Thursday til 9:00)

Extra: House

55 Rue de Babylone

75007 Paris, France

If you’re feeling adventurous, head over to the famous duplex St. Laurent called home for the second half of the 20^th century. Though it is empty and most of Saint Laurent’s personal art collections were sold off at Christie’s in the 2008, this apartment is where he did a lot of designing, hosted a lot of private fashion shows, and was inspired. Take a walk around the neighborhood, and imagine a time where you could walk down the street and see Saint Laurent walking by you. Who knows, maybe he could have been inspired to create something great by what you have on!

To get to his house from the Foundation, head back to the Alma bridge and cross it to the Left side of the Seine. Walk down Avenue Bosquet until it continues into Ave Duquesne. Take a left onto Rue d’Estrees (after about 1000 meters), which will continue on to be Rue Babylone. 55 Rue de Babylone is just past La Pagode movie theatre.

I hope you have enjoyed learning more about the amazingly inspiring Yves Saint Laurent. His designs are wonderful, and he revolutionized the world of fashion in the 20^th century for women everywhere and the rest of the fashion community.