So, the next one I saw - "Yves Saint Laurent 1971 - The Scandal Collection" at the Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent - http://www.fondation-pb-ysl.net/en/Yves-Saint-Laurent-1971-774.html.
To note first - this is but a stone's throw from the Palais Galliera, so combining these two exhibitions is ideal! On another note, on Sundays, their bookshop closes at 1 p.m. already! I had to rush in there first before taking in the actual exhibition, in case I had wanted to buy any of the books. Which I didn't in the end. There is one just on this collection, but I would personally prefer to first find "the" book on YSL that I would like to have - which so far I haven't found.
Anyway, on to the exhibition. It's not very big, so it doesn't take too long. One should also know that not all outfits from the collection are on display. But there are quite a few to see, and it's nicely done. There's also lots of photos - from the actual fashion show, as well as promo photos from the time. Shoes, jewelry etc. that went with the outfits are also shown, and the templates for the Greek print silks that were custom-made by Abraham (turns out one of those fabrics was also in the Abraham exhibition we had hear a few years ago - I hadn't realised it was from "that" collection). There were also some TV excerpts on view. I liked how they presented the clothes, with big blown-up copies of the actual sketches behind them, like this:
(this is from their FB page https://www.facebook.com/fondation....5468.189400477752672/1099932183366159/?type=1)
The clothes were also not behind glass, so one could take a good closer look. I liked the dress second from left here, and to see how beautifully it was made.
I admit, before this I hadn't known much about this collection. I knew there was this 40s-style collection in 1971, and the only thing from it that I would have known was the green fur coat, because I'd seen it before. What I hadn't known was just what kind of scandal it created at the time - or how the other outfits in the collection looked. People looking at it then immediately saw the 1940s in this. To me, many of the items, especially the suits, if you would have shown me them without telling me what they were or who by, I would have said "this is so 70s does 40s". Funny really. The colors, they wide labels, the shape of the long trousers... to me they're undeniably 70s, though with a 40s influence.
So, this was a good one to visit, though smaller than I had expected somehow. I wouldn't have gone to Paris just for this, but if you can combine it with the Galliera (which is definitely worth the trip alone!). Also, to note, this was curated by Olivier Saillard, director of the Galliera. And next up I will post about another exhibition curated by him. Busy man!
To note first - this is but a stone's throw from the Palais Galliera, so combining these two exhibitions is ideal! On another note, on Sundays, their bookshop closes at 1 p.m. already! I had to rush in there first before taking in the actual exhibition, in case I had wanted to buy any of the books. Which I didn't in the end. There is one just on this collection, but I would personally prefer to first find "the" book on YSL that I would like to have - which so far I haven't found.
Anyway, on to the exhibition. It's not very big, so it doesn't take too long. One should also know that not all outfits from the collection are on display. But there are quite a few to see, and it's nicely done. There's also lots of photos - from the actual fashion show, as well as promo photos from the time. Shoes, jewelry etc. that went with the outfits are also shown, and the templates for the Greek print silks that were custom-made by Abraham (turns out one of those fabrics was also in the Abraham exhibition we had hear a few years ago - I hadn't realised it was from "that" collection). There were also some TV excerpts on view. I liked how they presented the clothes, with big blown-up copies of the actual sketches behind them, like this:
(this is from their FB page https://www.facebook.com/fondation....5468.189400477752672/1099932183366159/?type=1)
The clothes were also not behind glass, so one could take a good closer look. I liked the dress second from left here, and to see how beautifully it was made.
I admit, before this I hadn't known much about this collection. I knew there was this 40s-style collection in 1971, and the only thing from it that I would have known was the green fur coat, because I'd seen it before. What I hadn't known was just what kind of scandal it created at the time - or how the other outfits in the collection looked. People looking at it then immediately saw the 1940s in this. To me, many of the items, especially the suits, if you would have shown me them without telling me what they were or who by, I would have said "this is so 70s does 40s". Funny really. The colors, they wide labels, the shape of the long trousers... to me they're undeniably 70s, though with a 40s influence.
So, this was a good one to visit, though smaller than I had expected somehow. I wouldn't have gone to Paris just for this, but if you can combine it with the Galliera (which is definitely worth the trip alone!). Also, to note, this was curated by Olivier Saillard, director of the Galliera. And next up I will post about another exhibition curated by him. Busy man!
. It is unusual though to get so many fashion exhibitions at once in Paris. But it also was a total zoo on Sunday, there was a marathon on, and it was always just happening in those places that I happened to be at, and some Hermès-sponsored riding competition at the Grand Palais, where the Gaultier exhibition was happening, as well as a Velazquez exhibition that was drawing even more people. It was pure chaos - in the end I was glad to escape back to the Marais and the fleamarket in Village St. Paul.
)