Accidental Stalker: Following Yves Saint Laurent

Is it possible to stalk a dead person? I found myself doing this by accident once and do apologise to the amazing Yves Saint Laurent for my behaviour!

Yves Saint Laurent has to be one of my favourite designers; undeniably talented with collections full of femininity, power dressing, colour, flamboyance and a confident sex appeal, who wouldn’t want to be that woman?

Pre-Covid when we could hop on planes and head abroad without a thought, my sister and I visited Marrakesh for a long weekend. A trip here wouldn’t be complete without visiting Yves Saint Laurent’s home, Jardin Majorelle. The gardens are so lush and heavy with colour and fragrance, water features and shaded little paths. Somehow, the mix of art deco and Moorish style combines seamlessly. Yves mentioned often in interviews how, before visiting Morocco he was afraid of colour and designing with it and he found boundless inspiration in the city and his second home. After Yves passed away in 2008 his ashes were scattered in the rose garden here and his partner, Pierre Berge opened the villa to the public as a museum. I recommend the cafe for reflection and refreshments.

A few years ago, in the countryside of County Durham, Pierre Berge and Yves Saint Laurent (the company) put on the most marvelous, sprawling and detailed exhibition featuring the brand’s archive rivalling that of similar exhibitions at the V & A Museum.

There’s remote and then there’s remote. It was such a pain to reach but oh, my, goodness when I arrived at the Bowes Museum it was clear why Pierre Berge would settle for no less a venue to house the exhibition. Built in the style of a French château and set in the beautiful countryside of County Durham with manicured gardens, I felt like Elizabeth Bennet seeing Pemberley House for the first time. Upon reflection the journey itself increases the enjoyment as only a true believer would undertake such a pilgrimage. I bought a year’s membership to skip the queue, not that I ever intended to travel back all the way back again unless it was for another YSL exhibition.

The exhibiton was so tastefully executed and with kindness towards visitors I really appreciated being valued and not being treated like a potential criminal. Pierre Berge had given permission on behalf of the company that visitors could take as many photographs as they wanted and take their time around the exhibition perusing the exhibits. His reasoning was that Yves Saint Laurent’s designs are hugely successful and have been published and photographed by all manner of publications and therefore they are already in the public domain and don’t need to be protected. It is quite the opposite feeling from going to similar fashion exhibitions where visitors are looked upon suspiciously. This exhibition is no longer running.

Finally, I do recommend the Yves Saint Laurent coffee table book by Roxanne Lowit. A generous book with stunning photography that captures the designer, his work and amazing models.

Here’s to Yves!