The Flowers of Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Saint Laurent transformed nature—roses, lilies of the valley, bougainvillea, poppies, wheat, and majestic irises—into floral motifs for dresses, using appliqués, prints, and embroidery that adorned women like a living palette of patterns and techniques. Edited by Elsa Janssen and Alexis Sornin, this volume brings together texts by experts (Serena Bucalo-Mussely, Emanuele Coccia, Marc Jeanson, Olivier Saillard) on floral symbolism in the history of fashion and at YSL, alongside archival sketches, runway photos, and scenes of the designer at work, complemented by poetic images by Sarah Braeck; it accompanies exhibitions at the YSL museums in Paris and Marrakech (2024–2025).