Denver Art Museum Salutes Yves Saint Laurent and More

One of Many Engaging Displays at the YSL Show in Denver

“Rien n’est plus beau qu’un corps nu.

Le plus beau vêtement qui puisse habiller une femme ce sont les bras de l’homme qu’elle aime.

Mais pour celles qui n’ont pas eu la chance de trouver ce bonheur je suis là.”

—Yves Saint Laurent

I’d loosely translate the above as follows:

Nothing is more beautiful than a naked body.

The most beautiful clothing that can dress a woman are the arms of the man she loves.

But for those who don’t have the fortune to find this happiness, I am there.

One of Many YSL Ball Gowns on View at the Denver Art Museum

Wow! That’s how I feel about the above and that was my reaction after visiting Yves Saint Laurent:  The Retrospective at the Denver Art Museum (DAM) recently. Wow, wow, wow. What a gorgeous show. Men, please keep reading and listen to the below podcast. Even those of you that might not have an interest in fashion will surely be dazzled by this extraordinary exhibition.Yves Saint Laurent, one of the most legendary fashion designers, opened his first couture house in Paris in the early 1960s at a time when the world would experience great change, especially for women.

From a historical perspective, the YSL retrospective is fascinating. It’s a dynamic show that examines the many external events that influenced this man’s forty years of creativity through a variety of media including photography and videos.

But let’s get back to the women. This man loved women. So much so, in fact, that he primarily worked on live models so that he could take in their gestures, their movements, their élégance. “He really had a goal of making women feel loved and empowered from what they were wearing,” says Tara Moberly, from the press department of the DAM, in our below interview. Indeed and this show-stopping exhibition offers a stunning look at Yves Saint Laurent’s work throughout his illustrious career. From the wall of colors that showcase the couturier’s vast collection of swatches to the black on black display of his famous tuxedos to the grand finale of ball gowns, this exhibition provides a feast for the eyes at every turn.

Denver Art Museum Hamilton Building

And how was Denver so lucky to land such a show, an exhibition that was only presented in two other cities including Paris (at Le Petit Palais) and Madrid? You’ll have to listen to the below interview with Tara to find out. Here’s a hint: the dramatic spaces of the recently-opened Hamilton Building lends themselves to such spectacular shows. (You might also enjoy my story Yves-Saint Lauren Comes to Denver that I posted a year ago after I heard about the show coming to the DAM.)

Le Smoking in Thirty Different YSL Versions

Zee Grand Finale of the YSL Show

So put on your most vivid colors (or your basic black), throw your shoulders back and sashay on over to this visually stunning Yves Saint Laurent show at the DAM through July 8th. (Best to reserve in advance.) I promise you’ll revel at the two hundred haute couture pieces on view and more including clips from his last runway show in 2002.

One of Many Evocative Pins from Madeleine Albright’s Collection

Carve out time to take in Read My Pins:  The Madeleine Albright Collection (through June 17th), a fascinating collection of pins worn by the former Secretary of State. I had no idea that her pins were more than a fashion statement—they were often a way for her to convey a message.

You might want to spend the whole day at the Denver Art Museum in fact. It’s the largest museum between Chicago and the West Coast with a wide variety of permanent collections from Pre-Columbian Art to Oceanic Art to Western American Art.

Upcoming shows including Now Boarding (July 15th-October 7th), an exhibition that features the history of airports and where they’re headed, surely a must for all travelers. I’m also excited about the Denver-only Van Gogh show, entitled Becoming Van Gogh that will be at the museum October 21st thru January 20th.

Click on the play button below to hear Tara Moberly talk about the Denver Art Museum, the Yves Saint Laurent exhibition and other exciting shows and happenings at this dynamic museum in the mile-high city.

Tip:  Admission to the DAM is free on the first Saturday of every month.

Thank you to the Denver Art Museum and John Bigelow Taylor (Madeleine Albright pin) for the use of the above images.

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