Paris Celebrates Alaïa and Saint Laurent with Two Major Fashion Exhibitions
Paris currently presents two exhibitions celebrating the work of couturiers Azzedine Alaïa and Yves Saint Laurent. "Alaïa avant Alaïa," located at the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa, will be open until October 24, 2022, and focuses on Alaïa's formative years, showcasing his pioneering use of lycra and spiral cuts. The exhibition includes archives that document his progression from art school to his collaborations with Guy Laroche, as well as his studies of Vionnet and Balenciaga, featuring pieces worn by icons like Greta Garbo and Grace Jones. Meanwhile, "Yves Saint Laurent aux musée" spans six museums in Paris and is available until September 18, 2022, highlighting Saint Laurent's revolutionary impact on women's fashion and his artistic inspirations.
Key facts
- Two exhibitions in Paris honor Azzedine Alaïa and Yves Saint Laurent.
- Alaïa avant Alaïa runs until October 24, 2022 at Fondation Azzedine Alaïa.
- Yves Saint Laurent aux musée runs until September 18, 2022 across six Paris museums.
- Alaïa was called 'the sculptor of fashion' for his lycra stretch and spiral cut designs.
- Saint Laurent introduced masculine garments like tuxedos and trousers for women.
- Saint Laurent's first collection was described as 'the greatest orgy of the senses in fashion history' by the New York Herald Tribune.
- Saint Laurent was inspired by Mondrian, Matisse, Picasso, Tom Wesselman, and Andy Warhol.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art dedicated its first exhibition to a living designer to Saint Laurent in 1983–84.
Entities
Artists
- Azzedine Alaïa
- Yves Saint Laurent
- Guy Laroche
- Madeleine Vionnet
- Cristóbal Balenciaga
- Greta Garbo
- Arletty
- Louise de Vilmorin
- Tina Turner
- Grace Jones
- Piet Mondrian
- Henri Matisse
- Pablo Picasso
- Tom Wesselman
- Andy Warhol
- Stefania Carpentieri
Institutions
- Fondation Azzedine Alaïa
- Centre Pompidou
- Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris
- Musée du Louvre
- Musée d'Orsay
- Musée National Picasso-Paris
- Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- New York Herald Tribune
- Artribune
Locations
- Paris
- France
- New York
- United States
- 18 Rue de la Verrerie, Paris