Held simultaneously in Paris and Marrakech, The Flowers of Yves Saint Laurent exhibition explores the legendary couturier’s enduring passion for flowers, framed through the literary lens of Marcel Proust.
Curated by Olivier Saillard and Gaël Mamine, The Flowers of Yves Saint Laurent marks a first for the Yves Saint Laurent museums in Paris and Marrakech—both institutions are joining forces to present a thematic exploration of one of the designer’s most beloved inspirations: flowers.
For Yves Saint Laurent and his lifelong partner Pierre Bergé, nature was more than a source of beauty—it was a sanctuary. Their homes and ateliers were enveloped by lush, flower-filled gardens, and Saint Laurent’s deep appreciation for floral motifs found its way into his haute couture creations. His love of literature, particularly the works of Marcel Proust, further enriched this botanical fascination.
In a 1987 interview with L’Egoïste, Saint Laurent revealed that he had been reading In Search of Lost Time since the age of fifteen. Just as Proust poetically likened women to flowers, Saint Laurent adorned them with floral embellishments, forging an artistic dialogue between fashion and literature.Showcasing over thirty garments and sketches, the exhibition highlights this intricate interplay between nature, literature, and the couturier’s vision.
