YSL Retrospective Paris

I don't even know where to start with this..

I once read a quote about people weeping at a fashion show as it was just so spectacular and I thought it ridiculous but coming to the end of the YSL retrospective show at the Musee des Beaux Arts in Paris, I felt tears come to my eyes. I didn't ever want to leave. I wanted to stay and drink in these most beautiful surroundings forever, filled with inspiration, talent and a truly enlightening view into the past and the revolution of both fashion and society.

Videos and audiotapes showed public figures reactions to women wearing trousers after YSL introduced 'Le Smoking' tuxedo and pioneered this freedom for women in fashion. Suffice to say in todays times their objections to women wearing trousers was laughable. But wow how far we have come. Even earlier than this we had a representation of YSLs work whilst at Christian Dior where he went against the famous 'New Look' of nipped in waists and launched a collection aptly named 'Trapeze' of beautiful Trapeze shaped dresses and coats. Looking at the pieces on show there felt a real freedom to the movement and to the body of women that previous couture styles did not have. "YSL emancipated women with his clothes".

Of all the fashion exhibitions I have been to see this was by far the largest collection. My favourites included the oriental themed collection with metallic jacquards and 'chinaman' hats, the beautifully intricatly beaded and tasseled Africana collection and the wall of all the different versions of 'Le Smoking' that YSL created. Ever evolutionary yet always sticking to the same principle. And and the elegance and opulence of the ballroom outfits - 'the last ball' a celebration of the dying nature of true 'red carpet' wear. What struck me most was that almost every piece could be worn today and still be fashionable. What genius to tap into styles - not necessarily classical - that would live on forever and never date. In this instance I feel obliged to use that film critics phrase - if you do one thing this year, go and see this.