The World According to Yves Saint Laurent

by Jean-Christophe Napias, Patrick Mauriès

Legendary designer Yves Saint Laurent’s maxims on haute couture, women, style, and elegance, presented in an attractive gift format. Founded by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé in 1962, shortly after the young couturier left his post at the helm of Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent would soon become one of the most successful and influential haute couture houses in Paris. Introducing Le Smoking, the first tuxedo suit for women, in 1966, Saint Laurent also presented iconic, art-inspired creations, from Mondrian dresses to precious Van Gogh embroidery and the famous Ballets Russes collection. The designer put the women who wore his clothes first (“What’s most important in couture is the body we dress, the woman we dress, more so than the ideas we might have”) and was determined to change attitudes of the era (“Fashion’s purpose is not only to make women look beautiful, but also to reassure them and to give them confidence”). He could be critical of the fashion industry (“I adore clothes but I hate fashion”), and he saw himself as a craftsman who perfectly understood his customer (“I think there are three kinds of designers. The great ones, the true ones, and the ones who know how to delight a woman just by making a very simple dress, or a very simple suit”). Presented in a beautiful package and accessible format, The World According to Yves Saint Laurent is the perfect gift for fashion fans, capturing the essence of a true visionary. 40 color illustrations

Genres: Fashion

176 pages, Hardcover

Published November 7, 2023

Reviews

[Mary Dombeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing about me is I love an aesthetic quote book. The rabbit hole this made me go down. I need Taylor Jenkins Reid to make a book based on this man’s life pronto.

Quick facts- Born in Oran, Algeria to a happy home life and love of theater. Won some paper doll fashion drawing contest at 17 and went to Paris to collect the prize. Met Dior while in Paris and ended up working for him for 2 years before his passing and Yves inheritance of the fashion house at 21. He was kicked out of the house a couple years later which prompted him to start his own house, the first ready-made fashion house.

But what really draws me in is his relationship with Pierre Bergé from even before he was famous, how much his time in Marrakech, Morocco changed his designs and life outlook, and how his episodes of depression impacted him.

The quotes directly from him opened so many questions about his view on women and how he designed for women to be able to feel confident and empowered. I have so many questions about this man.

“Regrets? No, I don't have any regrets... Except for regretting the fact that time passes, that things disappear and don't come back.”

[Aidan Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting collection of quotes from YSL. I enjoyed the read but the whole time I was weirded out by how much he claims to know about women. Not really a book I’d recommend to my mother if that gives any context. Has some very cool things to say about fashion as an industry and an idea. All and all not a bad read.

[tori olegario · Rating 3 out of 5]

the graphics are a bit tacky and i wish they included more of a ysl biography rather than solely isolated quotes

[Florina · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing “The word according to Karl”, I could not stop but read about his longtime rival Yves.
I have first came to contact with the word of Yves through the book of letter that his partner Pierre has dedicated to him.
In a word where we take pictures of the YSL brand because it gives us the illusion that we made it in life, it is nice to see the man behind the brand: the one who really made it in life.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

really easy to read book, took me about an hour

[Alena Srostlikova · Rating 5 out of 5]

The short ideas and thoughts of YSL are beautiful and the design of the book is out of this world.