MAYS MODECOLLEGE
The Saint Laurent jacket
This week, Anthony Vaccarello (pronounced va-tsja-rél-lo) showcased his fresh collection for the house of Saint Laurent. Quite a task, as the successor of Hedi Slimane you have big shoes to fill. He chose the headquarters of Saint Laurent on Rue de Bellechasse as the location. The fact that the location was still under construction didn't matter. There had to be references to the past wherever possible. Something that Pierre Bergé, the widower of Yves and the business director of the house, could appreciate. Anyway. The show. We were all quite wobbly from it. The cognac-colored leather, the boots (the boots, the boots), the evening dresses, but especially the jackets. And that, dear students, brings me to the topic of the day. The Saint Laurent jacket.
What
The top of Le Smoking, a creation by Yves Saint Laurent that shook up the fashion world in 1968. He gave women a men's suit. Truly with pants that gave us longer legs (optically, you know, optically) and jackets so tailored that they showcased our silhouette. The fact that a woman could wear men's clothing was seen as a huge step in emancipation. He also gave us shoulders. And shoulders mean strength and power.
Who wears it?
From Emma Watson, Angelina Jolie, Kate Moss (mixed with rugged, dirty jeans and huge heels) to Lenny Kravitz. It can go from chic to casual, from red carpets leading to the Oscars to dark afterparties.
How much does it cost?
Are you sitting comfortably? You can easily pay 2500 euros for a little jacket. But luckily, there are also vintage versions available. You should definitely reserve a few hundred euros for that.
More Yves
Curious? Then check out the most beautiful documentary ever made in the name of fashion: ‘L Amour Fou’, about the rise of the Yves Saint Laurent brand and the life of the depression-stricken Yves. Who, by the way, wasn't averse to a splash of alcohol, some hallucinogenic aids, and a good dose of infidelity.
His life has also been adapted into a film. Here you'll find a trailer.
