At Last: The UK Is To Get A Major YSL Exhibition

The UK is to host the first major retrospective of YSL’s work – or, specifically, the Bowes Museum in County Durham is.

Style Is Eternal, named for Yves Saint Laurent’s famous quote, is to feature 50 outfits – many of which have never been shown outside Paris before – and will include signature pieces from the entirety of his career, such as his Mondrian dresses, the game-changing Le Smoking tuxedo and the Ballet Russes-inspired Russian collection.

It is being collated by Pierre Bergé, YSL’s long-time partner, who is the director of the foundation that manages the designer’s estate.

While some may be surprised to see the exhibition bypass London, Bergé is confident that the Bowes is the perfect spot for it. 

‘The museum and its location clearly reflect Yves Saint Laurent’s and my own passion for inspiring, timeless places,’ he says. ‘It is the perfect setting for us – a museum built as a French chateau in the age of the Second Empire.’

Style is Eternal will run from July to October 2015.