Before Malcolm McLaren passed away earlier this year, he was working on a Broadway musical; “The Life and Times of Christian Dior”. Now it is time for his former assistant to stand on the stage in the spotlight. As unlikely as it sounds, Yves Saint Laurent’s life is set to be turned into a musical.

Alain Chamfort, a French composer, has just released an album about the legendary designer; “Une Vie Saint Laurent”, featuring 16 songs about the designer’s life. Chamfort, whom has worked with Serge Gainsbourg and Claude Francois, started writing the tribute to the couturier before he passed away in 2008, and has been approached to make his work into a musical to be shown at the Chaillot National Theatre in Paris later next year.

“Everything about his life just seemed natural to him. Meanwhile, he gave woman more power by designing a man’s suit for them, he helped the homosexual cause. He was a visionary: he started at Dior at 19, a child, and created a full collection at 21!”

The world is having a YSL moment, with the current retrospective on at the Petit Palais in Paris, which is a must see for anyone who loves a bit of Rive Gauche. Chamfort has also revealed a deep admiration for Lagerfeld. Perhaps it could be The Karl Show taking the West End by sartorial storm next?

Grace Joel