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Have you ever had the chance to visit the Pierre Bergé - Yves Saint Laurent Foundation in Paris at 5, avenue Marceau in the 16th arrondissement?
It's a magical place! A Second Empire-style mansion where Yves Saint Laurent set up his workshops in 1974, and where he asserted his style for 28 years until 2002, the year he ended his career.
The exhibition of the moment: Formes.
The exhibition features some forty haute-couture and ready-to-wear models, accessories and sketches, all of which resonate with the sets and works of German artist Claudia Wieser. It's an original experience that places the designer's genius firmly in the contemporary context.
As Yves Saint Laurent said in 1977: "I'm classic when I love Molière. I'm also classic when I work in refined settings. But underneath the classical exterior, I have very modern tastes. My favourite painters are Mondrian, Picasso, Fernand Léger... That said, whether our sensibility leads us towards traditional classical art or towards avant-garde forms, we have to maintain links with the past.
Yves Saint Laurent is both elegance and timelessness.
Two words that we appreciate enormously at Les Malletiers!
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Over the centuries, luggage evolved to become more functional and adapted to travellers' needs. In the Middle Ages, nobles used wooden chests to carry their belongings when travelling. These chests were often heavy and required several people to carry them.
With the advent of rail and sea travel in the 19th century, luggage underwent a new evolution. Wooden trunks became popular, offering better protection for fragile objects. These trunks were often adorned with leather or canvas and were used by wealthy travellers.
In the 20th century, the arrival of commercial aviation led to a further transformation of luggage. Rigid metal or plastic suitcases became common, offering greater shock resistance and storage capacity. Wheels were also added to make transport easier.
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An immediate success, the Keepall has never left the Louis Vuitton catalogue. It has been used in the trunk-maker's other collections, and given a new look by artists invited by Marc Jacobs, including Takashi Murakami and others.
Four sizes were chosen (45, 50, 55 and 60 cm), with the first three being the most popular because they could be carried in the cabin.
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She symbolizes French elegance. Gabrielle Chanel, born in Saumur in 1883, whose real name was Gabrielle Chasnel, was raised in an orphanage. At the age of 12, she was taken in with two of her sisters at Aubazine Abbey in Corrèze.
Her mother died in Brive-la-Gaillarde in 1895. When she was just 12, her father abandoned her a few months later, to the care of the nuns. He never returned. Gabrielle went to Aubazine to learn sewing. She stayed for 6 years. The abbey would remain a powerful source of inspiration for the codes of the House of Chanel...
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