YSL MUSES THROUGHOUT HISTORY
crfashionbook.com
The Yves Saint Laurent woman has always been a cool girl. Individual, bohemian, and often musical, her beauty is striking and she’s never been afraid to challenge conventional attitudes. The house has had more muses than most as it’s changed creative directors over the years, but the tradition of designing for free-thinking women started with Yves Saint Laurent himself and memorable faces Catherine Denueve, Loulou de la Falaise, and Betty Catroux.
VICTOIRE DOUTRELEAU
The 2014 Yves Saint Laurent biopic revealed a controversial ménage à trois between the designer, his partner Pierre Bergé, and model Victoire Doutreleau. The French beauty was Christian Dior’s muse in the early ‘50s and moved over to YSL when the house opened for business in 1960.
CATHERINE DENEUVE
Catherine Deneuve remained by Saint Laurent’s side throughout the highs and lows of his career—and until his death in 2008. The two met when the actress visited the designer’s atelier to pick out a dress for a visit with Elizabeth II, Queen of England. Later, he designed her wardrobe for the film Belle de Jour.
BETTY CATROUX
Famous for her androgynous figure and white-blond hair, Betty Catroux became a YSL muse after meeting Saint Laurent at Parisian nightclub Regine in 1967. The designer recognized her as the female counterpart of himself and described her as his “twin sister.”
LOULOU DE LA FALAISE
Loulou de la Falaise modeled for Richard Avedon and Helmut Newton before she became friends with the eponymous designer in the early ‘70s. She’s credited with influencing Saint Laurent's colorful Marrakech years—and for teaching him how to swallow hashish instead of smoking it.
SYLVIE VARTAN
Singer Sylvie Vartan was one of the original French Yé-yé girls. She tapped Saint Laurent to design her stage costumes after admiring an outfit of his on a fellow performer. Her most famous YSL ensembles include a sequined jumpsuit and crystal encrusted jeans.
PALOMA PICASSO
It-girl, jewelry designer, and daughter of iconic artist Pablo, Paloma Picasso was one of the key names in Saint Laurent’s close-knit crew of friends and muses. She wore a white YSL jacket on her wedding day and inspired his 1971 “Scandal” collection.
MOUNIA
Yves Saint Laurent made fashion history when he selected Mounia as his muse in 1978: It was the first time a black model walked in a haute couture show. Speaking after the designer’s death, Mounia thanked him for breaking down racial boundaries and opening the door for models of different ethnicities.
MARINA SCHIANO
Marina Schiano started out as a fit model in Yves Saint Laurent’s atelier before becoming his muse and director of his label’s New York operations. She is said to have one of the most extensive archives of original YSL pieces.
CARA DELEVINGNE
British model Cara Delevingne began appearing in Saint Laurent ready-to-wear and beauty campaigns in 2013. She “quit” modeling to focus on her acting career soon after, but resurfaced as the face of the Slimane’s last haute couture collection in March 2016.