Yves Saint Laurent woos Indonesia's rich<\/p>\n
By Agni Amorita<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Yves Saint Laurent is getting younger and
\nyounger. Not the couturier, of course, who is 62-years-old and
\nrumored to be sick, or even dying, but his latest collection,
\nwhich was brought to Jakarta for the first time in a three-day
\ntrunk show at Mulia Hotel, Central Jakarta, earlier this month.<\/p>\n
YSL Rive Gauche, designed by the house's new artistic director
\nfor women's ready-to-wear, Alber Elbaz, emphasizes neutral colors
\nand sophisticated cutting. Elbaz, who is an Israeli-American,
\ngoes East with his Kimono sleeves. He also applies a geometric
\ntouch -- the favorite style of Japanese designers -- in several
\nof his lean-silhouette creations.<\/p>\n
\"Elbaz was raised in California, no wonder you can catch a
\nVersace atmosphere, too,\" said Choong KH, Executive Director of
\nThe Glamourette, the Singapore-based agent for YSL in Asia.<\/p>\n
Elbaz's influences are evident in the glittering fabric and
\nsequin use in the dress' details. But the total look of an Elbaz
\ncreation is still determined by YSL's classic character, by
\nmaintaining its simple and elegant style in his A-line dominated
\ncollections.<\/p>\n
\"Which makes it very easy to sell, because the A-line style
\ncan be worn by everybody,\" added Choong KH.<\/p>\n
The Cruise 2000 collection from Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
\nis on a road show around the world and Jakarta was selected as
\none of the stop offs on its busy route. \"Because finally
\nIndonesia is bouncing back after the two-year crisis. I am sure
\nIndonesia will recover from the monetary crisis,\" said Choong,
\nwho invited Jakarta's rich and famous to be his very select trunk
\nshow guests. The collection is being displayed six months before
\nit is delivered to major stores worldwide. The outfits will be
\nsent to the trunk show buyers in December 1999.<\/p>\n
YSL trunk show guests are mostly the Glamourette boutique's
\nregular costumers who have not felt any impact from the ongoing
\ncrisis. They are too rich to be beaten by the krismon (monetary
\ncrisis). In fact, YSL collections are considered one of the most
\nexpensive lines among Parisian brand items. For example, one
\ncotton sleeveless blouse costs S$1,150. YSL uses famous exclusive
\nmaterial, which is used for different collections from time to
\ntime. The difference is that today's collections display a braver
\ncutting style.<\/p>\n
Another big difference in YSL's current collection reflects
\nits new owner's attitude. Pinault-Printemps-Redoute SA recently
\nbought the name for US$762 million, proclaiming a new era for the
\nfashion house. France's largest retailer company wants to market
\nYSL as another trendsetter, just like Gucci -- also recently
\npurchased -- but in the famously classical style. Gucci's recent
\nmarketing successes was followed by Elbaz's appointment as the
\ndirector of the ready-to-wear outfits.<\/p>\n
The 38-year-old Elbaz, a Tel Aviv School of Fashion graduate,
\nhas been in Yves Saint Laurent's shoes since November 1998. Elbaz
\nhad earlier worked for Guy Laroche. He started his career at Guy
\nLaroche in March 1977, and was appointed director of design in
\nSeptember 1996.<\/p>",
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