Laurence Benaim – författare

Yves Saint Laurent s impact on fashion is legendary, yet he remains an enigmatic and compelling figure. Tracing the development of Saint Laurent s visionary work through his charmed yet tumultuous life, respected fashion writer Laurence Benaim s newly translated and updated biography of the famed designer explores how this unassuming prodigy became a legendary, celebrated public icon who changed the face of fashion, style, and celebrity. Enriched by the author s exclusive interviews from Saint Laurent s partner Pierre Berge to family members, his atelier staff, and muses such as Catherine Deneueve, LouLou de la Falaise, and Paloma Picasso this fascinating biography chronicles early glimpses of Saint Laurent s talent in Oran and his star trajectory, from leading the House of Dior at the age of twenty-one to his fall from grace and subsequent forging with Pierre Berge, fashion s most enduring and successful professional partnership. In portraying the man behind the timeless icons of the Mondrian-print shift dress and the Le Smoking trouser suit who partied with Warhol in New York and relaxed with the jet set in his Marrakesh hideaway Benaim powerfully illuminates both the glittering world of haute couture and the business empire that revolutionized the fashion industry.

The family home in Granville, Normandy, was a haven where Christian Dior s creative identity first began to unfold. In the 1910s and 1920s, he discovered a love of flowers and gardens in the villa s grounds, and was initiated into the arts and fashion as the Diors called on artists to decorate the villa, had their portraits paint, and collected exquisite objets d art. The tranquil, nourishing atmosphere of the villa was enriched by the booming, optimistic climate of the Belle Epoque echoing in the entrepreneurial endeavors of the Dior family and in the town of Granville, that had become a fashionable seaside resort. Accompanying the exhibition at the Musee Christian Dior in Granville, this volume traces how Dior s hometown became fertile ground for his talent and gave rise to the House of Dior. It foregrounds gardens as a key source for couture and perfume; examines how Granville s social life summer fetes to its carnival fired his imagination; and shows how his family s business acumen underpinned the future maison. Featuring rare archives, campaign photography and emblematic creations by successive artistic directors inspired by the Belle Epoque, the book illuminates the origins of Dior s enduring aesthetic and the visionary spirit that continues to guide the maison today.

Christian Dior and Christian Bérard met at the end of the 1920s. They immediately became friends, nourished by elective affinities and an incredible complementarity. If Christian Dior marks his time with his architectural work as a couturier who will redesign the silhouette of women for a long time, Christian Bérard is a jack of all trades – painter, illustrator, and theatre designer for Jean Cocteau among others. Both have a crucial influence on their respective careers.With more than 100 images from the Dior archives, this book immerses the readers in the heart of the lives of Christian Dior and Christian Bérard.