For those who spend time on red carpets and at glossy gala affairs, or even those with an appreciation for truly beautiful clothes, this is very exciting news: the house of Yves Saint Laurent is returning to couture for the first time in more than a decade. It is yet to be confirmed whether the French house – which last showed a couture collection created by the founder in 2002, just before Yves Saint Laurent’s retirement – will show on the official schedule again, or just create one-off creations for VIP clients but the brand has said that it will create pieces for both men and women.
Current creative director Hedi Slimane will oversee the couture creations, which will be produced at the label’s new atelier, which is housed in a 17th-century mansion, Hôtel de Sénecterre, and furnished with pieces from Slimane’s own and the house’s private furniture collections. The space will consist of three separate areas: the Salon Couture, for the trying on of the couture pieces; the Atelier Flou, where the dressmaking will happen; and the Atelier Tailleur, a new tailoring venture.
“Hedi began to recompose the traditional couture ateliers of the house in 2012,” said a statement from the brand. “The ateliers are now at the centre of the Saint Laurent project by Hedi Slimane. The ateliers also produce commissioned hand-made pieces for movie stars and musicians. Hedi determines which of these pieces will carry the atelier’s hand-sewn couture label ‘Yves Saint Laurent’. These couture pieces may be women or men, a tuxedo or an evening dress, daywear or eveningwear. The ‘Yves Saint Laurent’ private atelier label is made of ivory silk satin and is numbered by piece. The atelier keeps a strict record of all the couture pieces in a gold monogram book.”
