This retrospective volume documents twenty years of Saint Laurent’s creative output, beginning with his 1962 debut collection after leaving Dior. Through a vast archive of fashion photography and original sketches, the book traces the evolution of the designer’s silhouette, focusing on his introduction of the tuxedo for women and the democratization of luxury through the Rive Gauche line. Hady Sy and Beatrice Dupire organize the visual history to highlight specific inspirations, including Russian peasant costume, menswear tailoring, and pop art aesthetics.
Architects of style and historians of twentieth-century culture reference this work to examine how silhouette reflects social change. Readers gain a technical understanding of high-fashion construction and the transition from haute couture to ready-to-wear. The collection of imagery provides a clear timeline of how Saint Laurent redefined femininity by integrating masculine tropes into the female wardrobe. Students of design use these pages to study the pairing of bold color palettes with structured, functional garments.
- Published
- 1983
- Language
- EN
