Lavallière

A luscious fig accord blurring the line between masculinity and femininity, Lavallière’s refined, graceful sillage is a fragrant tribute to YSL’s most flowing accessory, inspiring the most fluid attitude. Just like the supple bow that inspires it, Lavallière, composed by the brilliant Annick Menardo, is subtly, elegantly subversive. Sparkling, green, and mordant notes introduce the starring fig accord, rich and honeyed like the creamy crimson flesh of the fruit, verdant and raspy like the leaf, underscored by woody facets. An aristocratic, androgynous note melding in the heart of the fragrance with the radiant, dew-pearled Damascena Rose. A blend of rose essence and rose water that yields a vividly natural, fresh, vegetal note. Here, the floral symbol of femininity is matched with a quintessentially masculine ingredient: geranium, a verdant aromatic essence with rose, mint, and litchi aspects. The Inspiration It is named after a woman: the Duchess of La Vallière, one of Louis XIV’s stylish favorites. But the loosely tied bow was originally inspired by the masculine jabot and is therefore, by its very nature, a gender-fluid accessory. It is no wonder, then, that Yves Saint Laurent who played on androgyny like a virtuoso — plucked the silky cravat from the wardrobes of dandies and bohemians to turn it into one of his iconic signatures. From the ribbon bowtie worn with his first tuxedo to the sexy bourgeoise chic of his iconic pussycat bow blouses, jauntily knotted, worn loosely over transparent chiffon, or weaving its way back around men’s necks, the Lavallière was, and is, quintessentially Yves Saint Laurent. The bow tie exudes the iconic Parisian chic that defines the YSL style. An effortless elegance, it adds a touch of sophistication and lusciousness to an outfit. That inherent je ne sais quoi that defines French style. While undeniably elegant, the bow tie possesses a playful, almost indulgent quality, a touch of luscious whimsy. It injects a dose of personality into any ensemble, reflecting the very essence of the YSL spirit. A luscious celebration of self-expression.