By Natalie White

Yves Saint Laurent, who revolutionised womenswear during his 50-year career, will have a first major exhibition in UK showcasing his notable works, chosen from the 5,000 garments and over 15,000 accessories, drawings, paper patterns and objects currently conserved and kept by the Fondation Pierre Bergé - Yves Saint Laurent. 

"Fashion fades, style is eternal" Yves Saint Laurent once said.

Articulating this idea, the exhibition titled Yves Saint Laurent: Style is Eternal is set to be held at the Bowes Museum in County Durham from 11 July to 25 October.

The pieces on show will include his iconic women’s tuxedo, trouser suit and works inspired by artists like Picasso and Mondrian. In all, the exhibit will include over 50 of the designer's most exemplary garments, in addition to a comprehensive outline of his inspirations.

It will establish Saint Laurent's diverse and illustrious career, including his time as creative director of Christian Dior.

The late Saint Laurent's partner in life and business Pierre Berge said the Bowes Museum, a French-style chateau in Barnard Castle, was "the perfect setting".

"The Bowes Museum is a natural destination given its exceptional work with fashion and textiles; the museum and its location also clearly reflects Yves Saint Laurent's and my own passion for inspiring, timeless places."

Saint Laurent made his name when Christian Dior picked him to become his assistant at the age of 17. When Dior died three years later, Saint Laurent took over the Dior house. After heading up the fashion house from 1957 to 1960 as Artistic Director, he created his own fashion house with partner Pierre Bergé, with its first catwalk show in 1962. For 40 years, Pierre Bergé managed the business while Yves Saint Laurent focused entirely on the creative side.

In the first twelve years, the designer defined a new style and composed the quintessential elements of the modern woman’s wardrobe: the pea jacket and trench-coat in 1962; the first tuxedo in 1966; the safari jacket and the first trouser suit in 1967; the jumpsuit in 1968.

With Berge, he founded what was to become the multi-million-pound Saint Laurent fashion and perfume empire in 1962. He died in 2008.

We are honoured to host the first exhibition in the U.K. of Yves Saint Laurent, one of the most influential fashion designers of all time"

"We are also thrilled to work alongside the Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent on an innovative display that will introduce a dialogue between the designer's body of work and the museum's collection. This certainly is a great moment in the history of the Bowes Museum, as well as for fashion display in the U.K." added Joanna Hashagen, the museum's fashion curator.

Yves Saint Laurent: Style is Eternal will highlight the diverse influences of Yves Saint Laurent. The show will explore a number of themes, from art, lace and transparency, and Masculine - Feminine as well as featuring the different eras and styles of his creative career.