Wednesday, June 11, 2025

In fashion history, the most talked-about collections were typically those that were aesthetically appealing and commercially successful. In contrast, there was a collection that caused a big scandal. On January 29, 1971, Yves Saint Laurent presented what critics dubbed “Paris’ ugliest collection”: “Libération”, also known as “Quarante” and “Scandal”. Curious to know what was so scandalous about it?

Before that show, everyone knew Saint Laurent as the androgynous designer or the elegant heir of Dior. However, Libération marked a striking departure from the designer’s usual aesthetic. The 80-piece couture collection paid a bold homage to the 1940s