PARIS.- Christie’s France announced the sale of Catherine Deneuve’s wardrobe, to be held on 24 January 2019. The dresses, suits and accessories are a moving testimony of the friendship between Catherine Deneuve and Yves Saint Laurent, a relationship which lasted for several decades. Nearly 300 lots will be presented in total to the numerous connoisseurs and international collectors in Paris during Haute Couture Fashion Week. Christie’s will offer approaching 120 lots during a live auction, in addition to an online sale accessible to digital bidders from 23 to 30 January 2019.

Catherine Deneuve: “In 1965, I was invited to be presented to Queen Elizabeth II and my husband David Bailey, a fashion photographer, suggested that I ask Yves Saint Laurent for an evening dress.

I arrived at Rue Spontini with a photo from the Russian Collection from the previous year which he agreed to create for me.

A long white crepe dress with a panel of red embroidery was the start of a long professional collaboration and 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. 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”.

The wardrobe of Catherine Deneuve, which clothes were designed between the end of the 1960’s and the last show of Yves Saint Laurent in 2002, is mainly Haute Couture with several Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche pieces. The sale happening on 24 January 2019 will present emblematic clothes by the designer including numerous evening dresses worn by the French actress in Cannes, Hollywood, Venice; trenchs coats, smokings and colorful dress suits while the online only sale will offer a larger number of lots enhanced by a few cocktail dresses.

François de Ricqlès, President of Christie’s France: “We are honoured to have been entrusted with the sale of Catherine Deneuve’s wardrobe. This auction is particularly dear to our hearts, having organized the legendary Yves Saint Laurent & Pierre Bergé sale at the Grand Palais ten years ago. 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 highlight of the sale is undoubtedly a superb short beaded dress designed by Yves Saint Laurent for the Spring-Summer collection in 1969. This evening dress, worn by Catherine Deneuve when she met Alfred Hitchcock in 1969 in company of Philippe Noiret and François Truffaut, is estimated at €3,000-5,000.

Collectors and connoisseurs will also have the chance to discover a gold metallic velvet draped evening dress worn by Catherine Deneuve at the 2000 Oscar ceremony for the nomination of Régis Wargnier film, Est-Ouest, in the category Best Foreign Film (estimate: €2,000-3,000.

The leopard print, so dear to Monsieur Saint Laurent, is also well represented in the sale with four amazing pieces including a leopard silk velvet long dress with its gilt-metal belt. From the 1992-1993 Fall-Winter collection, this dress, estimated at €1,000-1,500, will certainly attract many collectors.

Yves Saint Laurent loved to create colourful outfits in order to beautify women, as Mademoiselle Deneuve previously said. Thus, the sale will present many creations with vivid colours such as a sublime evening printed gazar ensemble created for the 1989 Spring-Summer collection. This ensemble has been worn by Catherine Deneuve several times including when she received the Golden Globe for the Best Foreign Film with Indochine by Régis Wargnier on 23 January 1993.

A fine evening ensemble composed of a chiffon blouse, a scarf and a taffetas skirt will be one of the other highlights of the sale. From the 1977-1978 Haute Couture Fall-Winter collection, this beautiful ensemble from Russian inspiration is estimated at €3,000-5,000.

It is almost impossible to talk about the creations of Yves Saint Laurent without mentioning his famous black smokings. Catherine Deneuve, as the designer’s muse, was one of the first to wear them. Our sale will offer several examples including a black wool smoking jacket and trousers specially designed for her in 1982. Catherine Deneuve wore it at the 20-year anniversary celebration of the fashion house on 28 January 1982 at the Lido in Paris. With its stunning trimmings attachments, this beautiful outfit is matched with a top entirely embroidered with sequins, (estimate: €1,000-1,500.

Finally, Yves Saint Laurent and Catherine Deneuve lovers will also have the chance to acquire several accessories, evening bags, hats and pair of shoes worn by the French actress at different occasions.

SELECTION OF HIGHLIGHTS

• A beaded evening dress, Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture Spring Summer 1969. The same dress was exhibited at the MET in NY in 1993 and published in the catalogue under lot 44. Catherine Deneuve wears this dress at a ceremony where she met Alfred Hitchcock in 1969 with Philippe Noiret and François Truffaut. Estimate: €3,000-5,000.

• A gold lurex velvet draped evening dress, Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture Spring Summer 1995. Catherine Deneuve wears it at the Oscars ceremony in 2000 for the nomination of the movie Est-West by Régis Wargnier in the Best International Film category. Estimate: €2,000-3,000.

• A leopard silk velvet long dress with its gilt-metal belt, Yves Saint Laurent. Fall Winter 1992-1993. Estimate: €1,000-1,500.

• An evening printed gazar ensemble, Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture Spring Summer 1989. Catherine Deneuve wears it when the movie Indochine by Régis Wargnier received the Golden Globe for the Best Foreign Film on 23 January 1993. Estimate: €1,000-1,500.

• A fine evening ensemble: chiffon blouse, scarf and taffetas skirt Yves Saint Laurent Haute couture Fall Winter 1977-1978. Estimate: €3,000-5,000.

• A printed silk long dress Yves Saint Laurent. Haute Couture Fall Winter 1994-1995. Estimate: €1,000-1,500.

• A black velvet and zibeline jacket, Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture Fall Winter 1997-1998. Catherine Deneuve wears it at a YSL show. Estimate: €800-1,200.

• A black wool smoking jacket and trousers, Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture circa 1982. Catherine Deneuve wears it at the 20-year anniversary celebration at the Lido in 1982. Estimate: €1,000-1,500.

• A harlequin tweed suit with a white blouse, Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture Fall-Winter 1992-1993. Estimate: €400-600.