Catherine Deneuve’s Yves Saint Laurent wardrobe is going up for auction at Christie's

Catherine Deneuve’s fabulously glamorous wardrobe of Yves Saint Laurent pieces is set to be auctioned by Christie’s France in January next year.

The sale, which will take place on 24th January against the backdrop of Paris Couture Week, is a moving testimony to the decades-long friendship that bloomed between the French actress and the late, great fashion designer.

The pair met in 1965, when Deneuve’s husband, the famous fashion photographer David Bailey, suggested she ask Saint Laurent for an evening gown to wear to be presented to Queen Elizabeth II.

The long white crepe dress Saint Laurent created for her, inspired by his Russian Collection from the previous year, marked the start of a long and fruitful professional and personal friendship.

“His consummate gravitas during the fittings, together with his shy charm outside the atelier, made all the years we shared so enchanting - our silent complicity, our crazy laughter and our melancholy brought us together,” said Deneuve.

“I was only 20 years old and I had the privilege of being given access to this world of luxury, to train my eye and my taste by his side. He dressed me several times in films and I think that Belle de Jour in particular owes a great deal to him. Now, I am leaving my house in Normandy where I kept this wardrobe - not without a certain sadness - these are the creations of such a talented man who only designed clothes to beautify women.”

Christie’s will present nearly 150 of the 300 lots forming the sale during a live auction on 24th January 2019, while the remainder will be available for online bidding from 23rd - 30th January.

Some highlights to look out for include a beaded evening dress from YSL’s 1969 couture Spring/Summer show (the estimate for which is 3000-5000 euros) which Deneuve wore to a party where she met Alfred Hitchcock in 1969, a gold Lurex velvet-draped YSL couture evening dress (estimate 2000-3000 euros) she wore to the 2000 Oscars and a pigeon blue chiffon evening dress from YSL’s 1997 haute couture autumn winter collection (estimate 2000-3000 euros) which she wore to the 1997 Cannes film festival.

“This auction is particularly dear to our hearts, having organised the legendary Yves Saint Laurent & Pierre Bergé sale at the Grand Palais ten years ago,” says François de Ricqlès, President of Christie’s France. “It is a pleasure to offer these pieces which bear witness to a love story and a friendship between a most talented French actress and the most illustrious designer of all times.”

The live auction will take place on Thursday January 24 2019 at 6pm at Christie’s Paris, 9 avenue Matignon, 75008 Paris.

The online sale will run from January 23 to 30 2019 on www.christies.com