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.
Designed like a book, each section pairs quotes from Proust with Saint Laurent’s floral silhouettes. Accessories and sketches are displayed on pedestals, creating the impression of strolling through an exquisitely landscaped garden.
Credit: Pierre Boulat
Flowers emerge in myriad forms across Saint Laurent’s work. From the delicate lily of the valley—an homage to his mentor Christian Dior—to the stylized lily-inspired YSL monogram, floral imagery remains omnipresent. Roses symbolize love, Moroccan bougainvillea reflects his deep ties to Marrakech, while wheat, a symbol of luck and prosperity, imbues his designs with a sense of destiny.
The exhibition also highlights Saint Laurent’s technical prowess in transforming floral inspiration into couture masterpieces. From his earliest embroidered designs—such as the 1962 Spring-Summer dress—to the botanical prints of his Spring-Summer 2001 collection inspired by Pierre Bonnard’s paintings, his craftsmanship is unmistakable.
Among the exhibition’s most breathtaking pieces is Laetitia Casta’s silk gazar floral dress, worn as a “summer bride” in 1999. A stunning testament to Saint Laurent’s ability to merge fashion with artistry, the gown encapsulates his signature fusion of elegance and nature.
The exhibition’s dialogue between eras and disciplines continues with the inclusion of American artist Sam Falls. Known for preserving plant specimens and printing their pigments directly onto canvas, Falls’ work echoes Saint Laurent’s own floral reverence. His reinterpretations of nature align seamlessly with the haute couture pieces on display, proving that, just as in Saint Laurent’s creations, flowers can transcend time—blooming eternally in art and fashion alike.
