The marriage between flowers and fashion has never been more pronounced than when seen in the work of Yves Saint Laurent. This retrospective examines Yves Saint Laurent’s use of flowers from their symbolism to their fruition on the runway.

Flowers in every form inspired fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, serving as a leitmotif in his work. His passion for plants manifested itself in countless patterns and techniques, and he adorned women in floral appliqués, prints, and embroideries. From a thousand and one rose buds to sprigs of lily of the valley, from an avalanche of bougainvillea to delicate poppy touches, and from sheaves of wheat to majestic lilies, nature was an essential part of his visual palette.

Through the discerning eyes of Olivier Saillard, this veritable garden of Yves Saint Laurent’s designs―culled from a broad range of styles―metamorphoses into a bouquet of flowering silhouettes. Under the direction of Elsa Janssen and Alexis Sornin, essays from Emanuele Coccia, Marc Jeanson, and Serena Bucalo Mussely explore, respectively, the symbolism of flowers, characteristics of his recurring prints, and the designer’s signature use of flora in accessories.

A bold and fashionable look at the iconic golds of Yves Saint Laurent—in jewelry, couture, and accessories—from the 1960s to the 2000s“I love gold, it’s a magical color; when reflecting a woman, it’s the color of the sun.�As the official catalogue of the Gold, les ors d’Yves Saint Laurent exhibition in Paris, this stunning book presents the couture, jewelry, and accessories inspired by the golds of Yves Saint Laurent from the 1960s to the 2000s. This eye-catching metallic has been featured heavily throughout the entirety of the designer’s work: from the very first buttons adorning his pea coats to dresses that appear entirely fashioned from gold, no collection escaped the couturier’s “golden� touch. This heavily illustrated and photographed book presents Saint Laurent’s exquisite designs as we follow the thread of gold throughout his collections, offering special insight into the work and intricate techniques used to make the brocades, laces, lamés, leathers, and embroideries of YSL shine. Drawing on a large number of archival documents, interviews, and other resources such as films and shows, Yves Saint Laurent: Gold will show how the cultural, artistic, and social contexts of the time, especially the emancipation of women, resulted in these timeless designs. From the jeweled dress designed for his Autumn/Winter 1966 collection and photographed by David Bailey, to the sequined dresses worn by Zizi Jeanmaire and Catherine Deneuve, Gold sparkles as it conjures up the true treasures of Saint Laurent’s legacy and spirit.