Customer Reviews

The Private World of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge

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Given the material that is covered by "The Private World of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge," a reader might have expected this book to be one of the most fascinating interior design volumes issued in decades, and in this regard it does not disappoint. Indeed, the richly-layered environments and richly-enjoyed lifestyles crafted by the late designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge compel one to delve into the book over and over again.

"The Private World" is divided into eight chapters. The first is a 12-page analytical essay on the philosophy that guided Saint Laurent's and Berge's residential designs, while the remaining seven are each devoted singly to three homes in Paris, a work studio in Paris, a seaside house in France, and two homes in North Africa. These seven establishments are generously dealt with by photographs that cover exterior and interior spaces, full-room sweeps and focused close-ups of individual objects. Some of the seven locations and specific rooms have appeared previously in design magazines and other books. Still, the sum of the images offered here is stunning in revealing the care and resources that Saint Laurent and Berge devoted to collecting, decorating, and simply creating extraordinary backdrops for their lives and dreams. Overall then, it is fair to say that the book is an ode to the wondrous extremes to which a cultivated French taste for antiquities, modern art, and even adapted stage settings can go.

What limited text is offered in this otherwise ambitious book sets the scene for understanding what inspired Saint Laurent's and Berge's tastes and sensibilities, but one wishes for so much more. This desire for additional material is most strongly felt in looking at the individual residences, especially the villa at the seaside resort of Deauville. Here, for example, I longed for a great deal more information regarding the influence of Marcel Proust on the main house and Leon Bakst on the dacha. (That material is better handled, in fact, in the two chapters that Christiane de Nicolay-Mazery devotes to the Deauville property in her "French Interiors: The Art of Elegance.") One wishes too that the publishers of "The Private World" had taken the time to eliminate the many typographical, grammatical, and syntactical errors found throughout the book.

A selection of decors, mainly by Jacques Grange, that illustrate the sophistication of the houses shared by Yves St. Laurent and Pierre Berge. This is about as "high end" decor as you can get. However, several of the places are quite simple yet brilliantly furnished with a kind of taste rarely seen elsewhere. In a some of the homes or apartments simple objects and rare treasures are mixed together, but in an unpretentious manner. In others, extreme opulence is the key. However the workmanship of everything is the best that can be had anywhere. This is what places look like when money is no object.

Yves St. Laurant not only designed some of the most magnificent clothing in the world, but what an opulent life he and Pierre shared. The photography showcasing the magnificent collections of these two is superb. They truly had quite an eye for many treasures in the world.

A beautiful book..Wonderful to be able to peep into their private rooms and see how the wealthy reside. I prefer Pierre Berge's taste, his is less sombre. The one shown on the front cover is divine.
However I wished there were more photos of the external part of these beautiful houses and photos of the parties and celebrations when the houses were lived in.
(It was interesting to spot some flea market stuff mixed with the silver and antiques! and
phones in every room )
Unfortunately, with so much art and beauty it overwhelms and smothers rather than uplifts.I felt jaded and sad before the end of the book.

This book is a brilliant look into the clandestine life of a power couple and a glimpse of their countless collections spanning many decades'. It is obvious that the life they shared was filled with class, elegance, and above all love!

The lives of ysl and berge is fascinating, poetic and sad at the same time.

The movie L'amour Fou was great! And this book is a continuation of that.

This book is fabulous! The cost of the book is a little steep, so I always preview before I purchase. It is simply stunning and it eludes to the lifestyle that can be afforded by someone with unlimited resources. It is great for inspiration and dreams.The photographs are beautiful and the verbage is amazing.

Loved this book amazing images made me sooo jealous of their beautiful house and art collection. Stunning and inspiring....and I've only looked at the pic not read the words!

I bought this book for my Mom for Christmas and she is so happy with it. It is filled with interesting facts and beautiful pictures. She always has it out on the coffee table to thumb through.