Photos from rive gauche collections between 1966 – 1972
The Foundation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent curated an exhibit for Saint Laurent rive gauche, a prêt-à-porter brand from Yves Saint Laurent opening at the start of this past Paris Fashion Week, Fall/Winter season. The concept for the exhibit was to recreate the flagstone store for the brand that opened in Paris in September 1966 on rue de Tournon.
From tailoring to soft finesse, the exhibition displays pieces from the archival collections that the Foundation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent endeavors to preserve. The looks selected still maintain their relevance today, over 40 years after their creation – a testament to the quality of their designer.
However, almost more than their influence on the fashion world, the designs from rive gauche took on a political role as they clothed those campaigning for women’s rights. Rive gauche helped women create an image for themselves as they fought for equality. Yves Saint Laurent began Saint Laurent rive gauche to approach the women of the street, the every day woman who also wanted to stay on top of trends and fashion. Saint Laurent’s creation of le Smoking, the modern women’s smoking jacket, was a revolution for women’s wear. With this brand he intended to move the idea of fashion and empowerment to a wider audience than the wealthy who could afford high fashion. Today YSL continues to create fashion that pushes boundaries.
“Directed by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, Yves Saint Laurent’s spring campaign includes this hypnotic video 0f model Arizona Muse (who closed YSL’s show) circling around a palm tree in slow motion. Shot in Marrakech, the four minute video is entire black and white, and shows off the spring summer collection with tantalizing movements.”
The Saint Laurent rive gauche is open until the 17 th of July.
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Article by Amy Tabarly
Photos courtesy of the Foundation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent
