Inspired by Piet Mondrian, Yves Saint Laurent showcased a colour block day dress in his Fall/Winter 1965-1966 collection. A photograph of this sack dress is featured in the book 1000 Dresses (The Costume Institute, the Metropolitan Museum of Art) but can also be seen on their website: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/C.I.69.23

Mondrian, Mondrian everywhere... thanks to Yves Saint Laurent

Many collectors are familiar with the subsequent spin offs across the globe. Today’s pattern of the day is a girl’s dress in three versions, clearly following the trend set by Saint Laurent… McCalls 8154, printed in 1965. In the background is a Villawool Australian knitting pattern book, printed at about the same time. The colour blocks are so eye catching! What a great dress for the most fashionable girl at school…!

After all the fifties bouffant and tailoring, it is no wonder the Saint Laurent Mondrian day dress set the fashion world on fire… I think nowadays we take for granted  the simplicity which must have been so refreshing then…