Yves Saint Laurent: Dreams of the Orient

These pieces from the museum’s collection will be displayed alongside Asian artwork borrowed from the Musee National des Arts Asiatiques - Guimet and private collectors.

Imaginary Travels
Thanks to his “imaginary travels,” Yves Saint Laurent delivered a vision of faraway countries across his collections, developed through knowledge drawn from both his readings and by directly approaching the works of art. The designer dove deep into local traditions, explored the folklore, and played with the clichés to create a refined depiction of traditional clothing. Among his “exoticisms,” Asia is a recurring theme throughout his work.

India, China and Japan
Yves Saint Laurent offers both a literary and imaginary vision of Asia. All along his career, he turned to Indian, Chinese and Japanese traditional clothing to bring his high fashion creations to life. Since his first collections, he reinterpreted the sumptuous cloaks from Indian sovereigns. Then, it was Imperial China that inspired the Autumn-Winter 1977 collection, for which he offered a theatrical and transformed image of the country. That same year, the creator drew attention to his Asian influences through a new fragrance: the “sulphurous” Opium sparked controversy, which awarded it international success. Fascinated by Japan and especially by Kabuki theatre, he later revisited the kimono.

Every year the exhibition program of the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris is punctuated by a temporary thematic exhibition from October to January, then by a return to a retrospective program from February to September.

1.      Yves Saint Laurent Research sketch for the launch of Opium, circa 1977-1978. Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris2.      Yves Saint Laurent Illustration sketch. Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris
3.      Yves Saint Laurent. Illustration sketch for the Autumn-Winter 1977 Haute Couture collection. Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris
4.      Yves Saint Laurent Illustration sketch. Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris5.      Yves Saint Laurent Research sketch for the launch of Opium, circa 1977-1978. Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris
6.      Yves Saint Laurent Research sketch for the launch of Opium, circa 1977. Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris
7.      On the left: Short evening suit, Spring-Summer 1982 Haute Couture collection. On the right: Long evening dress, Autumn-Winter 1969 Haute Couture collection © Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris / Sophie Carre
8.      Evening dress, Autumn-Winter 1991 SAINT LAURENT rive gauche collection © Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris / Sophie Carre
9.      Evening ensembles, Autumn-Winter 1994 Haute Couture collection © Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris / Sophie Carre
10.    Evening ensemble, Autumn-Winter 1977 Haute Couture collection © Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris / Sophie Carre
11.    Evening ensemble, Autumn-Winter 1977 Haute Couture collection © Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris / Sophie Carre
12.    Yves Saint Laurent and a courtesane wearing traditional garments during his first trip to Kyoto, Japan, April 1963
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13.    Yves Saint Laurent and a courtesane wearing traditional garments during his first trip to Kyoto, Japan, April 1963
© Rights reserved