As appropriate for one of the most influential designers of the last century, Yves Saint Laurent’s send off at the showing of his final collection in Paris yesterday was an elegant affair filled with emotion and beautiful women. The epic catwalk display, which lasted 90 minutes rather than the traditional 15, revisited classic looks from the maestro’s 40-year career, worn by the world’s top models. Over 350 couture pieces, including Yves’s iconic tuxedo suits and see-through blouses from the Sixties, featured in the line-up along with 40 new designs, the last Yves will ever create. Two thousand friends, fans and clients, including Bernadette Chirac, the wife of the French president, packed the Pompidou Centre to catch a glimpse of the year’s most eagerly awaited collection and the man behind it all. They were not disappointed. Out came Naomi in a little furry number revealing her legendary legs to the max. Jerry Hall was statuesque in a gleaming silk sheath, and Claudia Schiffer took to the runway in a suede safari jacket. At the end of the show, which was relayed on giant screens to thousands in the square outside, Yves joined his lifelong friend Catherine Deneuve at the end of the catwalk. Then, the man whose first haute couture collection changed the face of fashion forever waved goodbye and, accompanied by Catherine and model Laetitia Casta, walked off the runway without a backwards glance. “I promised myself I wouldn’t cry, but I couldn’t prevent it,” said Diane von Furstenberg after the show. “Yves made women sexy, mysterious, elegant but never vulgar.” To check out HELLO's coverage of Yves Saint Laurent's 40-year-career and a pictorial overview of his designs, click links above.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
