The Flowers of Yves Saint Laurent

Produced with the Yves Saint Laurent museums in Paris and Marrakech, this book examines how flowers served as the designer’s muse throughout his life and work.

Yves Saint Laurent’s passion for flowers and gardens was the source of endless inspiration. From a thousand and one rose buds to sprigs of lily of the valley, from an avalanche of bougainvillea to delicate poppy blooms, and from sheaves of wheat to majestic lilies, he metamorphosed nature in his creations. Employing flowers as a palette of patterns and techniques, he adorned women in floral appliqués, prints, and embroideries.

Under the direction of Elsa Janssen and Alexis Sornin, this volume features texts from Serena Bucalo-Mussely, Emanuele Coccia, Marc Jeanson, and Olivier Saillard that explore the symbolism and role of flowers throughout the history of fashion and at Yves Saint Laurent. Archival design sketches, photographs of the collections and runway shows, and scenes of the designer at work accompany images by Sarah Braeck that offer a poetic interpretation of the couturier’s work. This book accompanies exhibitions at the Yves Saint Laurent museums in Paris and Marrakech in 2024 and 2025.

Elsa Janssen and Alexis Sornin are directors of the Yves Saint Laurent museums in Paris and Marrakech, respectively. Acclaimed garden designer Madison Cox is founder and director of the Yves Saint Laurent museums, and president of both the Fondation Pierre-Bergé‒Yves Saint Laurent and the Majorelle Garden. Serena Bucalo-Mussely, chief curator, is head of collections at the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris. Emanuele Coccia, philosopher, is author of The Life of Plants. Botanist Marc Jeanson is former botany director of the Majorelle Garden. Olivier Saillard, fashion historian, is director of the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa and former director of the Palais Galliera. Artist Sarah Braeck mixes photography with painting, collage, and ink.