Marina Schiano wearing the short evening dress
Photo: © The Estate of Jeanloup Sieff

“Yves Saint Laurent: Style is Eternal,” the UK’s first ever exhibition dedicated to the fashion genius and cultural icon, will open at the Bowes Museum, in Teesdale, on July 11.

“We are honored to host the first exhibition in the UK of Yves Saint Laurent, one of the most influential fashion designers of all time,” said Joanna Hashagen, fashion curator at the Bowes Museum.

Portrait of Yves Saint Laurent (1986)
Photo: Guy Marineau ©Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent

The exhibition, a collaboration between the Bowes Museum and the Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent, will focus on the defining moments in the designer’s oeuvre, and will include both his designs as well as items from his daily life.

Evening outfit inspired by Georges Braque
Photo: ©Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent

“The Bowes Museum is a natural destination given its exceptional work with fashion and textiles; the museum and its location also clearly reflect Yves Saint Laurent’s and my own passion for inspiring, timeless places,” said Pierre Bergé in a statement. “It is the perfect setting for us—a museum built as a French chateau.”

Having established himself at the helm of Christian Dior from 1957 to 1960, Saint Laurent then left and founded his own label, with his partner Bergé running the business side. The partnership allowed Saint Laurent to focus solely on his designs and the creative direction of the company.

Portrait of Yves Saint Laurent (1964)
Photo: Maurice Hogenboom ©Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent

A true visionary, Saint Laurent wanted to dress not only the women who could afford to buy his designs, but also those who couldn’t. He created the first ever diffusion line, Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, opening a boutique in Paris in 1966.

Short cocktail dress a tribute to Mondrian
Photo: ©Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent

His vision, with his repeated appropriation of workwear and everyday clothing into high fashion, has continued to shape fashion to this day.

From the women’s tuxedo to the jumpsuit and the safari jacket, the list of enduring designs he created is long and impressive. He also created many designs inspired by the work of contemporary artists at the time, like Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, and, perhaps most famously, Piet Mondrian.

Long evening ensemble inspired by Picasso
Photo: ©Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent

“We are thrilled to work […] on an innovative display that will introduce a dialogue between the designer’s body of work and the Bowes Museum’s collection. This certainly is a great moment in the history of the Bowes Museum, as well as for fashion display in the UK,” said Hashagen of the collaboration with the Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent.

The Bowes Museum was founded in the 19th century by John Bowes and his French wife Joséphine, both passionate art collectors who bought works by the likes of Goya and El Greco, and owning a total of over 15,000 works, including paintings, ceramics, furniture, and textiles.

Joséphine laid the foundation stone for the museum in 1869, but sadly never lived to see its completion.

Pop art-inspired cocktail dress
Photo: ©Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent

The Bowes Museum
Photo: Courtesy the Bowes Museum

“Yves Saint Laurent: Style is Eternal” will be on view at the Bowes Museum, Teesdale, County Durham, from July 11-October 25, 2015.