The Joyful Heart Aching Walk: The 40 years’ YLS Retrospective, Paris
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I like to Thank to Kelly for arranging our tickets to be rushed to our Hotel, So we could watch YSL Retrospective just in time! The door opens at 10:00 am and I highly recommend you to purchase the ticket before you get there due to the popularity of the show you may end up standing for a long time in the line to buy the ticket.
God, I felt so Nervous waiting and getting one step closer to Petit Palais’ Grand Entrance and the exhibition. Just like when I was 5 years old, the Santa came to our daycare. I remember my 2 sweaty little palms rubbing over my little pleated skirt. I was about to go say hi to him!
Entering and My heart beating fast!
The initial of the First room: Yves Saint Laurent 1936-2008. There are total 15 rooms through out the exhibition housing 300 haute couture models with a selection of pictures, drawings and films. This Retrospective was made possible under the patronage of Madam Carla Bruni-Sarkozy: The ex-super model who worked closely with Yves Saint Laurent and the current first lady of France.
His general approach to Fashion and Leading ahead provoked me to think about what I do and what I contribute as a designer and also as a simple human being. How much Do I Push Myself to loose fear in general and pour my guts and soul out in creative way? A big question.
Room 2: Dior Years.
The Modern shapes: Cynthia and I were talking about how modern these looked. The head wrap and tunic, You can put these on and step right out today and will look so chick.
The boxy cropped boy cut with sexy drapy blouse. Quite beautiful. The over sized pockets are fabulous!
Saint Laurent was a leader. He initiated brand new things. He gave answers to need. He drove the fashion world and a new life style: “Pants” for Women, New Tuxedo= the Smoking, City Safari and so much more. He said, ” Fashions come and go , style is eternal”
The room 6: Catherine Denevue, Respect and admiration at First sight. Quote from the walking guide. ” In 1965 she walks into the boutique on rue Spontini with a model cut out of “Elle”. The actress is 22 years old and already a symbol of French womanhood. Two years later Yves Saint Laurent will create her wardrobe for the film she makes with Bunuel. ” She has a marvellous heart” he used to say. This room was set up to remind her closet. Small and intimate. No Mannequins. I loved it.
Room 11: Imaginary Journeys. There are total 44 models inspired by his traveling through Spain, Russia, India, China, Japan and Africa, especially Morocco. As all of us know Morocco has been his love of Life. Morocco was a only country he visited repeatedly. He ended up purchasing a house called Villa Mabrouka, or House of Luck in 1998 with his partner Pierre Berge. Yves Saint Laurent later said about his Russian collection was a very important break through for him as a designer. The Russian collection really brought him his best creativity to work through the entire collection working with every single colors from the paintings and experience and emotions he had from Russia.
The room 12, Through The Looking -Glass of Art: This room really struck me. It took my breath away. It was the moment to witness Yves Saint Laurent enlightening his work to another level by attributing his masterful Haute Couture to his well respected Artists as Mondrian( the first Art actually he owned), Matisse, Bonard, Pablo Picasso, Tom Wesselman, Jean Cocteau, Georges Braque, Vincent Van Gough, Serge Poliakoff and Bambara Art…
My heart started moving in pieces and my eyes became teary…
A tribute to Georges Braque, also you can find this photo on the page 325 of the Hard cover book published with the Exhibition: Yves Saint Laurent
The Tribute to Mondrian and Tom Wesselman.
Knitted Wool Wedding Dress, 1965: It reminds me of Russian doll. You can find much better photo on page 250. the dress in the exhibition led the public to the Room 13, The Last Ball room and Room 14 or i rather call ‘The Smoking Wall”.
The room 13, The Last Ball Room : Puccini in my year, Yves Saint Laurent at my heart. I just broke down. I was deep into this unbelievable beauty and style created by one and only Yves Saint Laurent and the Era I never have been. The room also offered lovely velvet covered bench along the wall so you can sit down and enjoy the grand view of this room.
In year 2002, The Last Runway show of Yves Saint Laurent himself: The Retrospective. The Exhibition is featuring every piece from this runway. And right outside of the entrance to the first room had videos running for the public.
His Last Bow. 2002
Walking out of the Exhibition, I felt like Julia Roberts in the film, “Pretty Woman” where the Scene she breaks out in tears watching La Traviata by Verdi in the box, opera house…. It was unbelievable feeling to have.
Break your piggy bank. Skip your bag of the season. This YSL Retrospective is one enough Single reason to be in Paris. The show runs till August 29 this year.
And I pay a huge credit and respect to Petit Palais who executed this beautiful exhibition with all the right lighting, well thought out innovative layout, different and exiting dynamic from the room to room. I can’t just imagine seeing this exhibition in any other place!
The court yard of Petit Palais
Like a little girl in front of a candy shop.
YSL Retrospective and the corners of Paris
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As much as I like to share lots of photos of Paris, Parisians are bit protective of their images and trademarks. And I totally understand and I respect it. But it gets bit difficult for me because I Love to take pictures as all of you can see! Sometimes I wish I have an invisible camera to capture them all…!
Kelly, Cynthia and I are going to go see the Retrospective of YSL at Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris. www.yslretrospective.com ( yes the green is the color so I’m using it!) But I am not sure if I would be able to take some pictures there… Anyway, this event really excites me VERY much and I can’t wait to be there. There will be about 300 master pieces from Sir Yves Saint Laurent’s last 40 years of work.
Let’s see If I can steal some images from the exhibition, then I would definitely share them with you. So stay tuned. By the way, below is the Petit Palais entrance. (well, actually it’s not that small) Isn’t it quite gorgeous?
Now moving onto fun moments today at corners of Paris. By the way, I thought the Green was the color. Wasn’t it? So much yellow on the street.
Gael, I thought you would love this picture of Eiffel tower!
This lady with a lovely black cape was very flattered when I asked if I could take picture of her. thank you…
One of many beautiful bridges over the Seine
A man with fur (believe me I love this look!),
City Hall
A cone headed mannequin
It’s hard to believe these are not Real flowers. They are hand made silk ones. You will see these silk flower shops through out the city.
A cool park with a ping pong table.
Colors in Paris Now: The Green is it.
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It’s consistent as Berlin, the shades of GREEN off the Khaki, grey and blue or light pink. Pop of hot pink and dusty pink off the orange, red, purple and again the khaki. Neon also feels nice.
Have fun browsing colors from Paris!
Hmmm Escargot…? : Why not, We are in Paris!
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Ahh, It’s much warmer than Berlin here. Bon Marche with Kelly then met with Felix and Cynthia for a dinner.
Butter, and lots of butter with fresh Garlic, parsley,( I think… Emi, I needed you there!), baked. See I wasn’t sure about trying escargot… Something about it . The texture and how they move… Hmmm, bit hesitant. But I liked it! I mean mostly tasted like garlic and the herb but the texture was kind of between shell fish and octopus. Green and Beat salad. Green bean and more green salad.
Cynthia swears this is it. The best roasted chicken in town! Roasted with mushroom and potato. A glass of Sancere.
There’s a name for this. I just remember. But anyway, puff pastry, ice cream, toasted and shaved almond and chocolate syrup….
Walking back: The Alley, cobble stone and the couples… Belle Paris!
Public Bikes: Strolling Paris
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You will see many these machines standing through out Paris with bikes parked right next to them. This is ” Velib” public bike system. You will insert your credit card and fallow the instruction and there, you have your bike. You can have it for 1/2 hour or for 7 days or forever ( you can have a long term pass for it). The first hour’s cost is 1 eu and every certain hour, it gets added and the cost is very minimum. I always wanted to stroll beautiful Paris with bike and it’s my dream come true!
This is the best bike I ever had ride. They are solid, well balanced and has the best cushy seat. It comes with a basket on the front and for the best, it’s own lock ! I think the world should have this public bike system in every city. It consumes very little amount of energy to park the bike and it creates zero pollution. Such a great idea!
Hitting the city!