See the Master at work
There have been many designers that have shaped the world of fashion through the years: Balenciaga, Dior, Chanel. But the one who created the many looks still worn today is YSL. The tuxedo look for women, the Safari jacket, color blocking(Mondrian dress), the peasant look. All designed by him.
This documentary is divided into two parts: His first years growing up in Algiers, his move to Paris and his beginnings working for Dior, and then heading the House after Dior's passing when he was just 21. The second part takes place at his atelier, almost 50 years later, working on his collection. You get to see the man at work, bringing his sketches to life, a change here a change there, and the people that help him bring it to reality. You hear him talk, move, answer questions, talk about his life, his acomplishments. You get to see a man who, in spite of who he is, is humble and totally dedicated to his craft. It's about the design, the clothes, the women who wear them, not the fame or the money or the accolades. His friends are also interviewed (Betty Catroux for one), and his mother.
And talk about the reverence, the total respect the people that work for him have for this man. They are dedicated to him, to help him achieve his vision.
I love fashion and the power it has to change the way you feel about yourself and how you present yourself to the world. I bought this DVD to better understand the process of designing and the man himself, and I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. If you love fashion as much, you'll enjoy it too.
It's best to learn from the BEST
Having been in the fashion world for more than two decades, this DVD is the best example of what the Couture World is all about, perhaps a vanishing art but Yves was one of the last great real couture designers and this movie demonstrates that to the best ability. For anyone interested in Fashion and art in general, this is perhaps one of the most interesting documents on how the true couture work, men and women with true dedication to the art of drapping and hand work that produces the small miracles in beadwork, and all elements that made a couture garment different from any other. True understanding of the way a dress should look and how it flows like air. I recommend it highly to anyone going into the fashion world or already in the fashion world.
Just give me a fact sheet...
After I saw *Seamless*, I was recommended to see this documentary of Yves St. Laurent.
Other than the interesting facts about YSL and his works, this was somewhat a boring documentary. And it didn't help that it was a long one. I think what made it mundane was that it was slow-paced and that there was a lot of silent conversational gaps from the interviewees. I understand that YSL was old and somewhat ill during this documentary. However, his friends and colleagues were also not quite fluid in articulating their thoughts and memories. It felt like they had to think and re-think before saying anything, like there was a darker or a secret side to YSL that shouldn't surface.
Again, I say that there were some interesting facts, such as YSL and Christian Dior and other stuff. However, I just couldn't wait for the documentary to be over. I could've just save myself time just by reading about his life online. However, I did like seeing some of his designs on the models. Although, I did wish the documentary had shown more.
La Couture
The 2nd movie (5 Ave Marceau) is a behind-the-scenes look at the creation and development of YSL's 2001 spring-summer couture collection. For fans of the rarified world of haute couture, we get to see the design process from sketch to toile to final preparation of dresses with all the minute and perfectionist adjustments made to hems, linings, collars, flounces etc. YSL's regular house models are featured including the evergreen Amalia. His muse Loulou de la Falaise Klossowski and also Anne Marie Munoz are there by his side to give their opinions and support. For once we also get to see his chiefs of ateliers working out his sketches and trying to come up with creations that match what he dreams of. It's a hushed temple of design with everyone contributing to the final designs. We get to see how fabrics are draped and chosen, decisions on embroidery, how the style of the model's walk can affect the design, how some colours or fabrics are rejected and replaced; successful creations are paraded by the house models in front of YSL and others and greeted by cries of "ravishing", "beautiful!" and "sensational". I only wish that the 1hour plus movie was even longer. There's only a little snippet of the actual fashion show tacked onto the end of the movie but that's not really the point of the movie. The style of filming is slightly distanced - we observe the team observing the designs and sort of listen into their conversations. Totally recommended if you love couture and love YSL. In French with accurate English sub-titles.
What More Can You Say About Yves Saint Laurent?
This DVD is a wonderful documentary on the life of the most influential fashion designers ever to live. It documents so many various levels of the fashion world and really gives you an insight not only into his amazing life, but truly into the world of fashion. It's a must have for any YSL fan and a must have for anyone who loves fashion and the art that is fashion. Yves Saint Laurent was a man like no other and he will always be remembered as one of the most fabulous men to ever live and grace the every changing world of haute couture and pret-a-porter. Buy this DVD, trust me, you wont regret it and you will tresure it as much as I have and always will.
(6 reviews)
