YVES SAINT LAURENT AND PHOTOGRAPHY VISION
A New Book Tracing the Intimate Bond Between Yves Saint Laurent and Photography
On July 10, 2025, Phaidon releases Yves Saint Laurent and Photography. This striking new book explores the fashion icon’s deep connection to the photographic image.
The project was conceived by the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris, under the direction of President Madison Cox. It offers a carefully curated visual journey, featuring both iconic and never-before-seen photographs.
In parallel, the Rencontres d’Arles will present the exhibition of the same name (July 7–October 5, 2025). Together, the book and show reveal a new perspective. They position Saint Laurent not only as a master couturier but also as a key figure in 20th-century visual storytelling.
This is more than a fashion archive. In fact, it is a cultural time capsule.
Crédit photo : © Yves Saint Laurent © Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent
Photography’s Golden Age Meets Yves Saint Laurent
From Richard Avedon to Juergen Teller, Sarah Moon, Helmut Newton, Bettina Rheims, and Irving Penn, the book features some of photography’s greatest names. Notably, these artists captured YSL vision with both boldness and grace.
Together, their work forms a kaleidoscope of styles. As a result, it reflects the designer’s ever-evolving creativity and his passion for visual storytelling.
As Madison Cox explains, “The life and work of Yves Saint Laurent intersect repeatedly with what is often referred to as the ‘golden age’ of photography—a period of boundless innovation and power that rose from the ashes of World War II.”
Clearly, this connection is visible on every page. Indeed, each frame reveals the deep, ongoing collaboration between the couturier and the camera.
Crédit photo : ©The Irving Penn Foundation © Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent
A Collective Voice Telling a Singular Story
Yves Saint Laurent and Photography is more than just a book. It’s a vibrant dialogue between fashion and image-making.
It features essays by Elsa Janssen, Simon Baker, Serena Bucalo-Mussely, Alice Morin, and Clémentine Cuinet. The foreword, written by Madison Cox and Christoph Wiesner, blends academic depth with visual delight.
Each contributor offers a unique perspective. Some explore the historical dimension. Others reflect on the artistic power of the images. Together, their voices ground the photographs in a wider cultural framework.
Moreover, the book serves as an essential companion to the exhibition. This major event is co-produced by the Rencontres d’Arles and the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris, in collaboration with the Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent Foundation.
Robes de cocktail de la collection haute couture automne-hiver 1965 dite « hommage a Piet Mondrian » .
Crédit photo : © Saint Laurent © Jeanne Lanvin-Castillo © Peter Knapp.
A Must-Have for Lovers of Fashion and Visual Culture
Whether you’re a devoted fashion archivist, a photography enthusiast, or simply captivated by YSL’s enduring legacy, this book belongs on your shelf. After all, it offers more than beautiful images. In fact, it captures the spirit of a visual era.
Its July 10 release in France comes just days after the Arles exhibition opens. Therefore, readers can explore both experiences side by side. Together, they offer the perfect opportunity to dive deeper into Saint Laurent’s visually rich universe.
By celebrating the link between fashion and photography, Yves Saint Laurent and Photography doesn’t just revisit the past. Instead, it elevates it. Ultimately, it reminds us of the powerful interplay between garment, gesture, and gaze.
Want some more ? Take a look at : SAINT LAURENT by Anthony Vaccarello SS 2025
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Amélie JOUISON is a fashion photographer and art director.
She likes to question the status of the image as a woman, incorporating a point of humour, burlesque and creating discomfort.
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