Don’t Miss Yves Saint Laurent: The Perfection of Style, at The Seattle Art Museum

“The whole way, you do not waste your time: you do the sewing, décor of theatre, etc. You will be very useful, if not indispensable to know the cut.

                                                         I shake your hand,

                                                                             Michel de Brunhoff.”

• A translated excerpt from Vogue Editor-in-Chief to a young Yves Saint Laurent.

This letter, dated August 19, 1954, from Vogue’s Editor-in-chief, Brunhoff, was written to an 18-year old Yves Saint Laurent who was just starting out in the fashion industry. The powerful mogul sweetly explains that, in fact, Saint Laurent is not wasting his time applying to elite Parisian fashion schools. Little did either of them know that very soon, the young, shy boy would become an iconic, world-famous fashion designer.

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is currently featuring a must-see collection of Yves Saint Laurent, which shares the story of a timeless and legendary artist and man. With more than 100 garments and rare documents, the exhibition provides a behind-the-scenes look into the life of one of the world’s most celebrated designers.

Photographs and a biography take the viewer on a visually stunning journey from Saint Laurent’s childhood in the then-French colony of Oran, Algeria, to his near-immediate success in the fashion world. There are rough drawings and sketches, toiles—a preliminary garment made of white cotton, finished products, and images of fashion shoots and shows. All of these materials encompass the work that went into each outfit. Every garment is topped off with stylish accessories and unique, personal touches. This exhibit shows him as a true artist—a man who lived and breathed fashion—not just a designer.

At the entrance to the exhibition hall, paper dolls strike the eye first--beautiful outfits the teenager made to scale. This is the first time the paper dolls have been shown publicly in the U.S, and they symbolize his first noteworthy work, providing a crucial precursor to later success.

Another curatorial concept which stood out were depictions of Saint Laurent’s early idols—from classic painters to playwrights and actors of the time. These influential people, from Pablo Picasso to Jean Giraudoux, influenced his works, making them less like clothing and more like otherworldly, unique pieces of art. In 1957 after working as an assistant for Christian Dior, Saint Laurent became Artistic Director of the House of Dior. Upon Dior’s sudden death, he soon became widely known by the public.

Even if you aren’t very interested in fashion — which I usually am not — this is an influential and inspiring exhibit. I appreciated seeing pieces from Saint Laurent’s most successful collections, as well as his lesser-known creations. Saint Laurent experimented with a variety of cuts, colors, and designs, but his personal values and style remained consistent throughout his career. The exhibition is worth seeing, because along with breathtaking pieces of art, a common theme is represented: working hard towards your passions will take you a long way, and stay with you forever.

Yves Saint Laurent: The Perfection of Style runs Oct. 11 - Jan. 8 at the Seattle Art Museum.

For tickets, visit seattleartmuseum.org, or go to teentix.org for a 5 dollar pass.

Girls Varsity Soccer Team Kneels to Take a Stand

The National Anthem has come to the forefront of the news recently. Some professional athletes have taken a knee during the storied song to protest racial inequality in the U.S. The actions of these players have influenced members of the Seattle Academy girls’ soccer team.

Margaret Sneeringer ‘17 gave this advice to her team after a weekday practice at Delridge: “Get context for the situation, talk to people, and have an informed and personal view.” As a senior captain on the team, Sneeringer confronted the issue head on and made it clear she supported her teammates. The dialogue that she and other senior captains had brought tears, yells, and hugs, showing that opposing views can lead to a productive dialogue and demonstration. 

Rob Phillips, head coach of the Seattle Academy girls’ soccer team, further echoed his player’s philosophy, stating, “I think of [the issue] more like a sphere, rather than two arrows coming at each other. You can have many different points of view on the subject.” Phillips was proud of the girls’ discussion, their thoughtfulness, and then their stand at Fall Sports Mania. He had a lot to be happy about, and not to mention a 4-0 win over class 3A Holy Names.

There was lots of anticipation for what would happen during the National Anthem at Starfire Field during Fall Sports Mania. After each player was introduced, three of the girls of the Seattle Academy girls’ soccer team and two from The Onions addressed the fans at Starfire. “Before the National Anthem we would like to address racial inequality in the United States with direct action,” said Nia Kajumulo ‘17.  “We as a community will support each other's different opinions,” said Max Boone. Once The Onions began the performance, all but two of the girls knelt, some in the audience sat, one middle schooler raised a fist, and many stood with a hand over their hearts. There were many different ways of demonstration but respect for each one.

While people may have differences of opinion, there is a consensus in the Seattle Academy community that one must be respectful and educated especially on such a delicate issue.  As Lauri Conner said in her address to the students: “Open inquiry, dialogue, and engagement help shape this community.”