Few designers can lay claim to tears shed at fashion shows. But Yves Saint Laurent wasn’t most designers. One of the most celebrated and influential designers of the twentieth century, Saint Laurent attributed much of his transformative inspiration to Morocco. “Paris was his place of creation but Marrakech was his place of inspiration,” said Bjorn Dahlstrom, director of the newly opened YSL museum.
Saint Laurent had an obsession-like appreciation for Moroccan design. “Marrakech taught me color,” said Saint Laurent. “Before Marrakech, everything was black.” You can see the drastic color change in his collection from mostly black to vibrant lively hues, which happened in 1966, precisely the year he visited Marrakech for the first time.
What was it about Morocco that captured the heart of a creative genius? If you’re planning to visit Morocco, you can see for yourself. To experience Morocco through the opulent lens of Yves Saint Laurent, try visiting some of his favorite haunts while donning Moroccan pieces, and of course, visiting the Yves Saint Laurent museum that just opened its doors a few months ago. Here are our best suggestions for touring Morocco in Yves Saint Laurent fashion.
1. Visit Musee Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech. The museum, which just opened its doors in October 2017, is more like a culture center than a museum, according to Pierre Berge, Yves Saint Laurent’s late business and life partner. Berge was pivotal in bringing the museum to fruition. The museum features a permanent and temporary exhibition space that showcases Yves Saint Laurent’s work, a 130-seat auditorium, a bookshop, a café-restaurant with a terrace and a research library housing 5,000 books that range from the Arabic history to geography to poetry to Yves Saint Laurent’s œuvre and the world of fashion. The architecture that’s built of terracotta, concrete and earthen colored terazzo with Moroccan stone fragments further pays homage to Moroccan flair.
2. Stroll through the Jardin Majorelle. The Jardin Majorelle is one of the most visited sites in Marrakech, and conveniently located adjacent to the Yves Saint Laurent museum. This enchanting garden took French painter Jaques Majorelle 40 years to create in the heart of the “Ochre City.” It was a place that immediately captured the heart of Saint Laurent and Berge upon arriving to Marrakech. So much so that when they heard it might be destroyed, they purchased the Jardin Majorelle and restored it. Today the Jardin Majorelle also houses the Yves Saint Laurent memorial, where his ashes are scattered in the rose garden.
3. Check out Berber Art. Yves Saint Laurent was a collector of Berber art, who admired the tribal and identity-based nature of the Moroccan Berber aesthetic. Conveniently located inside the Jardin Majorelle is the Berber Museum, which Saint Laurent and Berge transformed from the the Islamic Art Museum after purchasing Jardin Majorelle. A little travel tip: You can kill three tickets with one queue if you want to tour the Jardin Majorelle, Berber Museum and Yves Saint Laurent museum in one day.
4. Explore the countryside of Tangier. Tangier is not only a transportation hub, but it’s also the center of permanent conversation among many famed European artists. According to an interview with Berge, Saint Laurent used to come to Tangier, spend some time on the beach, rent a car and discover the countryside, and enjoy afternoon mint tea at the café Hafa, which is built around several terraces on top of a cliff.
5. Stay at the Hotel Minzah. Saint Laurent and Berge used to stay at the Hôtel Minzah when visiting Tangier at the end of each summer, before purchasing a home of their own in 1999.
6. Wear Moroccan clothing. Moroccan influence is present in many of Saint Laurent’s garments from the obvious to the more subtle references in the colors and fabrics. He reinvented some of the more traditional Moroccan pieces such as the jellaba and tarbouch. He experimented with kaftans, turbans and hats to be worn by fashion’s chicest women. While touring Morocco, op for a long silky kaftan and some harem-style trousers. Women can ditch heels and slip into slippers. For some flair, flaunt brightly colored jewelry, and throw on a turban or kaftan. Donning Moroccan wear will also keep you suitably covered, which is appropriate for respecting their social mores and religious customs.
7. Book a private tour of his personal home, The Villa Oasis. For a deeper and more personal look into Saint Laurent’s Marrakech life, the Four Seasons Marrakech is hosting rare tours of his private home, the Villa Oasis, which you can book through the concierge. A visit to the villa is $1,700 for a tour of eight people, according to Harper’s Bazaar. The pricey fee will go towards the Majorelle Foundation. After the tour, guests return to the Four Seasons Resort Marrakech and get to attend a unique culinary experience prepared by Chef Thierry Papillier among the lush gardens and water features. The chef will concoct them a sur mesure menu inspired by the colors, textures and shapes embodied in Yves Saint Laurent’s designs, accompanied by a carefully curated selection of Moroccan wines.
There is surely more of Morocco to see than this. But visiting his favorite haunts will provide a lens into the world of Yves Saint Laurent, which can only enhance your appreciation for the vibrant hues and tapestry of a beautiful culture that provided inspiration for a design powerhouse. Without Morocco, Yves Saint Laurent would be a completely different brand. You could also argue he might have been a different person altogether, as travel has a way of forming our views and perspectives.
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