F/W 1978 Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture Purple Lesage Embroidery Floral Jacket

This extraordinary Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture evening jacket from the Fall/Winter 1978 collection exemplifies the designer’s reverence for both artistry and history. Handcrafted in sumptuous deep purple velvet, the jacket features an opulent three-dimensional floral embellishment at the front, accented with delicate gold-tone metal ribbon and rhinestone trim.

A masterwork of Lesage embroidery, this piece reflects Yves Saint Laurent’s homage to Elsa Schiaparelli’s surrealist creations of the 1930s. To realize this vision, YSL collaborated with Françoise Lesage - whose mother embroidered the originals for Schiaparelli - ensuring the continuation of haute couture’s most intricate traditions.

Radiant under light, the sculptural floral motif appears to bloom from the surface of the velvet, showcasing couture craftsmanship at its finest. A museum-worthy creation, an identical jacket is held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, affirming its status as one of Saint Laurent’s most significant works.