YSL Embroidery

Yves Saint Laurent embroideries were gorgeous, beyond belief. I can't imagine how many hours it took the specialty embroidery houses to accomplish what he wanted on each garment he sent to them. I was drooling over the examples at the VMFA's YSL "The Perfection of Style" exhibition.

Embroidery meant many techniques to include "sequins, beading, appliqué and embroidery with thread". St Laurent identified where on a garment he wanted the embellishment. The embroiderer would submit several test examples for that particular project and then St Laurent would choose which he preferred. Francois Lesage (an embroidery house and school that is still in business) and Pierre Mesrine were the creme de la creme of embroiderers at the time. They created exquisite work for Yves St Laurent, some of which is in the photos below.

Here is a collection board for evening wear with the word "lesage" above the jacket ensemble in the middle.

A collection of different embroidered items with embroidery samples in the very front cases....absolutely gorgeous!

A close-up of the center dress. This was from the Autumn-Winter 1970 haute couture collection. It's made of black georgette and embroidered with flowers in pink, purple and blue seed beads. The embroidery was by Lesage.

An embroidery sample that was submitted to St Laurent for a garment...

This exquisite jacket was from the Spring-Summer 1983 haute couture collection. The base fabric is black silk organza. It's embroidered with a tortoiseshell pattern of red, orange, white, silver and black sequins and black and orange seed beads. The edges have black faceted beads, silver rhinestones and coral tubes. This is another fabulous example of Lesage workmanship.

So many beautiful things at this wonderful exhibition!!