There’s something about this greyscale idea of aldehydic flowers that comes across as completely classic and never dated. The fragrance displays an abstract bouquet of florals in monochrome, that gives the impression of a regal vase, stuffed to the brim with black and white blooms.
This sets Rive Gauche apart from its contemporaries, pairing clear citrus and aldehydes to give a crisp bite that is aloof and commanding, speaking of a woman who takes no prisoners but doesn’t feel the need to shout to be assertive.įlowers play a significant role in Rive Gauche’s composition. In keeping with this style, Rive Gauche opens with a champagne-sparkle of aldehydes, but where this shimmer is fizzy and vibrant in fragrances such as Chanel’s No5, it is much more subdued in the YSL. Rive Gauche is classified as an aldehydic floral – a genre of fragrance that has fallen out of favour since the late ‘80s, much to the dismay of this glamour-loving writer. Top: Bergamot, Aldehydes, Ylang-Ylang and Freesia Rive Gauche is a bold fragrance with shoulder pads, but unlike other heavy hitters of the decade, this one offsets its distinct character with the soft and elegant tailoring that Yves Saint Laurent was renowned for. It’s a fragrance that takes no prisoners and speaks of confidence, as well as a serious passion for haute couture. Housed within a striking blue tin can adorned with black and silver stripes, this fragrance burst on to the scene as a wearable form of attitude rather than a personal fragrance. Rive Gauche was launched by Saint Laurent in 1971 and was penned by perfumers Michael Hy (Calandre by Paco Rabanne) and Jacques Polge (currently in-house ‘nose’ for Chanel). Rive Gauche is perhaps one of the most notable of these fragrances, and out of all four, it is the most indicative of Yves Saint Laurent’s spirit (the man and the brand’s) – capturing perfectly the idea of Parisian life on the fashionable left bank of the Seine. In a period of 12 years the brand launched Opium, Paris, Kouros and Rive Gauche – four of the most noteworthy olfactory creations the perfume industry has to offer. YSL is a brand with its fair share of iconic fragrances. With over 1,000 new fragrance launches each year, one can easily get bogged down in the onslaught, focusing only on the next big thing and the intriguing blends that join the already crowded department store shelves, so it’s refreshing, and often enlightening to go back and sniff the classics. With three insightful essays and an incredible array of visual material-drawings, articles, and photographs-the book celebrates the far-reaching legacy of Rive Gauche, one of the most significant fashion lines of the past 50 years.As you may have gathered from my review of Yves Saint Laurent’s inimitable Opium a few weeks ago, I do like to take a look back at some of perfumery’s biggest icons. Rive Gauche revolutionized everyday pieces that were traditionally male-the shirt, blazer, and trouser suit-for the burgeoning female workforce. Exploring Laurent’s progressive approach to fashion, Saint Laurent Rive Gauche highlights the cultural impact of the brand, especially its influence on women during the late ’60s and ’70s. Rive Gauche revolutionized ever Yves Saint Laurent was the first couture house to launch the modern concept of luxury ready-to-wear clothing with a collection called Rive Gauche in 1966.
Yves Saint Laurent was the first couture house to launch the modern concept of luxury ready-to-wear clothing with a collection called Rive Gauche in 1966.
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