The gypsy-jetsetter is a bon vivant, free spirit who travels the world looking for aesthetic inspiration and great stories. The eccentric and eclectic style of this sort of globetrotter breaks all convention, through their collection of pieces for the home that are both souvenirs as well as conversation starters. With the boho-luxe trend making waves once more on fashion runways the world over, we’ve taken our cues from the homes of two of fashion’s greatest legends and bona fide jet-setters – Diana Vreeland and Yves Saint Laurent, to bring you the low-down on creating a perfectly effortless, chic pad of your own.



Tip #1: Prints on Prints on Prints

Diana Vreeland was the first REALLY famous fashion editor, setting the tone for the fierce fashion and acid tongue stereotype of Vogue powerhouse ladies to come. Much like the woman herself, her home was over the top and exquisite. She is believed to have told her interior designer, Billy Baldwin, that she wanted her home to look “like a garden, but a garden in hell.”





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Diana Vreeland in the living room of her New York City apartment



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Vreeland’s bedroom. The printed silk scarf on the bed was where her clothes and shoes for an evening soiree were laid out.

Discern Recommends: Go with a series of contrasting prints within the same broad colour or pattern scheme. Or create a stunning, all-over-same-print corner that is just a little OTT.

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Blossom Trail Wallpapers



Tip #2: A plain base in a bold colour acts as a canvas for experiments in embellishing and accessorising

The origin of the 1970's' boho-chic look has often been attributed to the genius of Yves Saint Laurent. He found his inspiration in Morocco, where he had several stunning homes with his partner Pierre Bergé. For his home in Marrakech, Jardin Majorelle, Saint Laurent chose a stunning cobalt blue exterior. The blue walls became a striking canvas for the nonchalantly immaculate landscaping and a shell for the veritable treasure trove of art and artefacts that he collected as he travelled all over the world.





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The exteriors of Jardin Majorelle

The ‘blue bedroom’ in one of Yves Saint Laurent’s other homes in Daar es Saad, Morocco. The deep teal wall acts as a solid backdrop for the intricate, tiled fireplace The clinical white and blue of the striking canopy is offset by an earthy, graphic carpet.



Discern Recommends: A sofa or chaise lounge in a solid colour can be accessorised with throw cushions and bolsters. Juxtapose the eclectic set-up with a graphic rug that completes the balancing act between solid colours and eye-catching graphics. Furniture can be personalised to create a statement piece – the canopied four-poster bed, for example.

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Tip #3 Snug in a rug

If style is a mode of self-expression, layering is its most effective tool. Yves Saint Laurent’s jet-setting muses cut the figure of impeccable yet effortless throw-it-together style. Vreeland was legendary for being the vision behind some of the most revolutionary images in fashion. The duo’s love for unusual juxtapositions of patterns, colours and textures translated into a kaleidoscope of carpets and kilims that set the scene for spending decadent hours upon, with their kindred spirit travellers and revellers.





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Yves Saint Laurent with Marian McEvoy, editor of Elle Décor , in the garden of his Marrakech home in 1977.



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A n editorial conceptualised by Diana Vreeland in 1968 with supermodel Verushka and photographer Franco Rubartelli .





Discern Recommends: Creating a layered, textured feel to a space through interesting cushions, throws and rugs invokes warmth and character.

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Tip #4: Lots and lots of art

To quote artist Twyla Tharp - “Art is the only way to run away without leaving home.” Both our style icons were avid patrons of the arts and needless to say, their homes reflected their discerning eye for incredible art (Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge’s colossal personal collection went up for auction at Christie’s in 2009). While both Vreeland and Saint Laurent shared personal relationships with some of the leading artists of the day, they were also avid collectors of eclectic objets d’art made by anonymous craftsmen, that they chanced upon as they travelled all over the world.



Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé’s home at Rue de Babylone.

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Diana Vreeland in her office, turning her back to a wall laden with some of the most iconic fashion images of the 20th century.



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An art-filled niche in Diana Vreeland’s apartment



Discern Recommends: Filling a space with art is the final touch for the world-travelling aesthete. There should be rules when it comes to collecting art; however, mixing high-end paintings with curios and objets d’art makes for an eclectic display strategy. Vintage-inspired trunks and nesting tables create whimsical, art-filled niches.





‘Return of the Bird Tribes’ by Yogesh Bhusare

‘The Last Cupcake’ by Adrita Das

A La Mode Box