Catherine Deneuve has long been linked with the house of Saint Laurent; the French actress’ friendship with founder Yves Saint Laurent spanned close to half a century, and numbered several seminal fashion moments – famously he created costumes for her character in Luis Buñuel’s 1967 Belle de Jour – but always returned to a deep-founded emotional connection and shared pursuit of beauty. ‘We write to each other often,’ he said in 1992. ‘I call her Catherine, my sweet, and she sends me pale-coloured roses.’
At the 79th Venice International Film Festival – which began earlier this week in the Italian city – Deneuve was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the opening night gala, for what festival director Alberto Barbera called ‘an indisputable talent at the service of a gift for acting, plus a sophisticated and rare beauty, attributes which have helped make her the very symbol of French cinema’. ‘It is a joy to receive this prestigious award at the Venice Festival, which I love and have known for a long time, since Belle de Jour received the Golden Lion in its day,’ the actress said in her acceptance speech.
On Tuesday, 6 September 2022, Saint Laurent will host their own celebration of the actress in Venice, titled ‘Une nuit avec Deneuve’ at the Teatrino di Palazzo Grassi. Hosted by current creative director of the house Anthony Vaccarello – with whom Deneuve has noted a close friendship, appearing in the designer’s S/S 2021 campaign – the evening will comprise a series of screenings of some of the actress’ most memorable movies and roles, from ‘a femme fatale in Mississippi Mermaid, a high-style vampire in The Hunger’ to ‘a liberated woman in Heartbeat’, as Saint Laurent describe. Screenings will run from 11pm until dawn, with Deneuve in attendance, and are open to the public. Two of the films feature costumes designed by Yves Saint Laurent himself.
RELATED STORY
‘We know about Yves Saint Laurent’s passion for the cinema, for actresses, and in particular for the very special friendship he had with Catherine Deneuve,’ says Vaccarello of the evening. ‘For ‘Une Nuit avec Deneuve’ I wanted to recreate that rare chemistry that sometimes occurs between a gifted director, an actor’s performance, and exacting style.’ Of her unique appeal as an actress, the designer notes: ‘Deneuve appears to most quintessentially personify an idea of freedom, both in her remarkably personal craft as well as in the discreet elegance of her physical presence.’
‘Palazzo Grassi is delighted to take part in Saint Laurent’s tribute to Catherine Deneuve,’ adds Bruno Racine, the museum and cultural hub’s director. ‘Her work has marked the evolution of French and European cinema, while with her talent and grace, she gave life to some of the most indelible characters in film history, thus becoming a role model for the generations that have followed her.’
INFORMATION
Admission to ‘Une Nuit avec Deneuve’ is free. Tickets can be booked on Palazzo Grassi’s website.
-
Wallpaper* checks in at the refreshed W Hollywood: ‘more polish and less party’The W Hollywood introduces a top-to-bottom reimagining by the Rockwell Group, capturing the genuine warmth and spirit of Southern California
-
Book a table at Row on 5 in London for the dinner party of dreamsRow on 5, the first restaurant ever to open on Savile Row, emerges as a perfectly tailored fit for fans of fan dining
-
How a bijou jewellery salon in Monaco set the jewellery trends for 2025Inside the inaugural edition of Joya, where jewellery is celebrated as miniature works of art
-
Fashionable Christmas baubles to accessorise this year’s tree, from Bottega Veneta to LoeweSelected by the Wallpaper* style team, a gleaming array of Christmas baubles for fashion fans featuring fantastical designs from Bottega Veneta, Loewe, Prada and more
-
The Wallpaper* S/S 2025 trend report: ‘A rejection of the derivative and the expected’Wallpaper* fashion features editor Jack Moss unpacks five trends and takeaways from the S/S 2025 shows, which paid ode to individual style and transformed the everyday
-
The breathtaking runway sets of S/S 2025, from beanbag animals to a twisted living roomWallpaper* picks the best runway sets and show spaces of fashion month, which featured Bottega Veneta’s beanbag menagerie, opulence at Saint Laurent, and artist collaborations at Acne Studios and Burberry
-
‘There is a renewed desire to be elegant’: why men’s tailoring is more relevant than everFar from a dying art form, men’s tailoring is gaining momentum thanks to a diverse array of designers who are using the garment to change the way we move and feel, says Simon Chilvers
-
Saint Laurent’s ‘Tan Lines’ collection is made for the heat of summerA host of warm-weather essentials get the Saint Laurent treatment in Anthony Vaccarello’s ‘Tan Lines’ capsule – from bikes and tennis balls to swimwear and handbags
-
Women’s Fashion Week S/S 2025: what to expectNext week sees the arrival of Women’s Fashion Week S/S 2025, with stops in New York, London, Milan and Paris. Here, our comprehensive guide to the month, from Alaïa’s arrival in New York to Alessandro Michele’s Valentino debut
-
Pre-Fall 2024’s defining looks combine sharp silhouettes with a soft touchA play on texture defines the Pre-Fall 2024 collections, seeing clean lines and pin-sharp tailoring meet soft-to-the-touch fabrics. Here, photographer Mattia Parodi captures the season’s best looks
-
Brunello Cucinelli’s Venice store transforms a former stock exchangeThe new Brunello Cucinelli store in Venice brings contemporary elegance to two levels of the Palazzo della Borsa, with a focus on simplicity and sumptuous craftsmanship
