PARIS.- Christie’s will present Zizi Jeanmaire’s Yves Saint Laurent wardrobe during an exclusively online sale from January 13th to 26th 2021. The unforgettable performer of “Mon truc en plumes”, who passed away last summer at the ground old age of 96, is remembered by all. This sale will pay a vibrant tribute to her and Yves Saint Laurent, the designer who was by her side throughout her entire career. The clothes and accessories that make up this wardrobe reflect the image of the queen of music hall with jet-black hair: often black, a stunning silhouette, glitter, embroidery and feathers.

The great international career of Zizi Jeanmaire (born Renée Jeanmaire) is closely linked to Roland Petit, whom she met when she was 9 years old at the Ecole de dance de Paris - she was later to become his muse.




After the immense success of the ballet “Carmen” initiated in 1949, they got married in 1954 and travelled the world together. Roland Petit, son of Rose Repetto, creator of the famous ballerina shoes brand, placed Zizi at the heart of all his creations. It is to the talent of two geniuses, Roland Petit and Yves Saint Laurent, who designed the costumes for the ballets from 1959 and for the music-hall shows, that we owe the birth of this mythical silhouette.

Dance was not the only playground of Zizi Jeanmaire, for whom Aragon, Gainsbourg and others wrote songs, inspired by her unique and cheeky voice.

The admirers of the one who “had eyes that could empty a monastery”, as Boris Vian described her, will thus be able to discover about a hundred lots including tuxedos, jackets, dresses, trousers, shoes and accessories, designed by one of the most illustrious French couturiers.

"All she had to do was enter the stage for everything to come to life, fire and flames " --Yves Saint Laurent

Camille de Foresta, auctioneer of the sale: "We are very honoured to have been entrusted by Valentine Petit, with Zizi Jeanmaire’s Yves Saint Laurent haute-couture wardrobe. It is a huge honor for Christie's to offer the wardrobe of a figure from the "first circle" of Yves Saint Laurent: Zizi Jeanmaire. It is a 40-year long friendship and collaboration that has united the couturier and the dance icon, whose wardrobe demonstrates a certain exuberance on stage contrary to a rather tame private life. Yves Saint Laurent designed her famous stage costumes, which are in museums today, but who also designed Zizi Jeanmaire’s everyday wardrobe, whose famous silhouette perfectly flattered marvelously his tuxedos, double-breasted jackets, suits, safari jackets, trench coats, wrap-around dresses, chiffon blouses, and some emblematic pieces such as the short tailored dress from the 1967 African collection. Zizi Jeanmaire's wardrobe, almost exclusively black and white, extremely desirable and in a remarkable state, will be the delight of elegant women of all ages in search of an iconic piece by Yves Saint Laurent which are as always magical and timeless.”