“Yves Saint Laurent: The Perfection of Style” opens at the Seattle Art Museum

By

Cassidy Mantor

Published
Oct 12, 2016

A new exhibit offering never-before-seen looks of Yves Saint Laurent has opened at the Seattle Art Museum.

Showcasing over 100 haute couture looks from the designer, the exhibit also showcases his sketches, fabric selections and fit sessions, offering a new insight into his design and development process.

“My weapon is the perspective in which I see my society," said Saint Laurent of his approach.

The Perfection of Style spans the designer's 44 year career. The works on exhibit are drawn from the collection of the Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent. It also features new acquisitions that have never been shown to the public.

In addition to the finished designs, the exhibit showcases accessories, photographs, films and other multimedia offered by the Foundation.

The exhibit is co-curated by Florence Müller, the Avenir Foundation Curator of Textile Art and Curator of Fashion at the Denver Art Museum, in collaboration with Chiyo Ishikawa, Seattle Art Museum’s Deputy Director for Art and Curator of European Painting and Sculpture.

The installation is designed by architects Nathalie Crinière and Chloë Degaille of Agence NC.

This exhibit is the first time Saint Laurent's work is being shown in the US in such detail. It begins with 1953's Paper Doll Couture House, tracks his first days at Dior in 1955, journeys through his iconic work in the 60s and 70s, and celebrates the splendor of his final two decades designing until his retirement in 2002.

The exhibit is open now and runs through the first week of January, 2017.