Yves Saint Laurent - Movie Review

Who's in it?

Pierre Niney, Guillaume Gallienne & Charlotte Le Bon 

What's it about?

In what can be seen as a companion piece to L'Amour Fou (2010), Yves Saint Laurent gives an insight into the turbulent behind the scenes relationship between YSL and Pierre Bergé, his partner in love and business. Spanning four decades we see Saint Laurent first as the nervous, aspiring designer taken under the wing of Dior and thrust into the limelight upon his death in '57. 

The following 106 minutes are a voyeuristic peek inside the times of an intrinsically flawed man and a creative genius ~ We're shown the hedonism & counter restrictions that shaped him into the icon he became and the Saint Laurent House into the mecca it remains. 

Any Good?

While it won't make many ripples outside beauty/fashion circles, this glimpse into the life of one of our times greatest fashion visionaries is a feast for fashion loving eyes. Overseen and approved by Pierre Bergé himself, the movie, narrated with Bergé's words plays like a eulogy to the love of his life, Yves. 

Niney portrays such a convincing impression of YSL that it is rumoured Saint Laurent's dog mistook him for his lost owner while visiting the set - that makes me a little sad for the pooches sake, as this entire film does for Bergés sake. 

From young, neurotic Mammy's boy to full on narcissistic, self destructive, drug fuelled and tortured artist there is no doubt that this depiction of YSL is very close to already reported tales of his scandalous life. 

While those without an interest in the evolution of the luxury fashion house might tire of this tale very early on, those with the slightest sartorial interest will relish every single moment of this movie. 

Peppered with original design sketches, thought processes behind each revolutionary collection and petty squabbles over the initial FROW seating arrangements with famous fashion journalists in tiny Parisian rooms, I genuinely enjoyed Yves Saint Laurent. If you're reading this site and this review I can guarantee you will too. 

Yves Saint Laurent is

in Irish cinemas today. 

Rating: 

First Look: YSL - Summer Look 2012 - Swimming Pool

I've a very special place in my heart for YSL including, but not confined to the gold luxe packaging that I compulsively polish until shiny with whatever cloth available (jumpers, scarves, children's hoods (be they mine or other peoples')). Everything about the brand says spendy, that's including the prices but I've yet to be dissapointed with a purchase.

Imagine my glee when my poor beleaguered postie dropped off a package from the brand last week with an exclusive goo at their Summer 2012 Swimming Pool collection and a couple of pieces to play with.

See? Shiny!

First up, Dessin Du Regard Waterproof (Eye Pencil) (€26) in Azure Blue is one of the two pencils on offer (the other is Luminescent Gold). It's a super soft, bright blue crayon that gave me pause when I opened it but once swatched and worn, I fell in love. Karen over at LovelyGirlieBits.com had a fantastic piece up yesterday about just how waterproof this feller is. Check it out here. Or feast your eyes on my very own eyeball below. I had four compliments by home time yesterday wearing this and they weren't even faux 'What are you wearing?' compliments either. This liner is, quite literally, stunning. 

Azure Blue and a coat of Golden Sand Effect Faux Cil Mascara

 Pictured above is a coating of the Volume Effet Faux Cil, waterproof mascara for a false lash effect, in Golden Sand (€31). There's also a Majorelle Blue version in this collection to complete your Summer time look. While Golden Sand is not the first colour you'd think of when it comes to mascara and certainly not one I'd pick up at the counter off the cuff, I really like it. I have just one coat on my lashes above but it can be built up to a more golden effect. I've since worn it on the tips of my already black lashes and that's definitely the way to go for me. Like frosted tips for your peepers. 

Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils in Golden Sand - €31

Last of my beauty bits is certainly not least, I have a feeling that the good folks at YSL had a read of my Coffee Kissers post before deciding to send me this beauty as it's already gone to the top of my list! Behold Rouge Pur Couture No 44 - Bronze Ammonite...

Bronze Ammonite = Coffee coloured Heaven! €34

Again, once opened this bronze with gold microshimmer seems a little daunting. But just look at the swatches. Look. At. Them!

It's so flattering on and wears more like a pinky brown than a bronze gold. I got a solid three hours wear from one application. Although not moisturising, it didn't dry my lips like most microshimmer wielding lipsticks will do and wore off evenly, which is always a bonus.

I'd thoroughly recommend dropping by your nearest YSL counter for a little play with this Summer collection when it launches on June 21st. Just in case your appetite hasn't been whetted as yet, I've a sneak peek below at the other pieces that make up the YSL 2012 Limited Edition Swimming Pool Collection.