IF there is one excursion you make this autumn then make it to the Bowes Museum.

Built in the 19th century in the style of a grand French chateau, and housing works of art by the likes of Canaletto and Turner, the Barnard Castle-based museum is worth a visit alone.

It would be absolutely inexcusable not to pay a visit when you learn that there is a current Yves Saint Laurent exhibition.

This may seem like old news and you'd be right.

Fashion worshippers have been making the pilgrimage in droves to (of all places...) County Durham for Style is Eternal since its July opening.

As the first exhibition in the UK to present a comprehensive display of the French fashion designer’s work and life, it probably comes as no surprise then to hear (and this is the new bit of news) that it's northern residency has been extended from October 25 to November 8.

It's estimated that more than 70,000 people have seen the exhibition - tripling the museum's usual visitor numbers.

And just think you could still be one of those statistics.

But much more than that, catch a glimpse of some of Saint Laurent's iconic pieces - spanning his working life from the 1950s to his death in 2008 - which stand within touching distance.

Incorporated into the Bowes' own textile display, the show highlights the defining elements of YSL's vision and the influence he had on fashion and womenswear through the years.

Among the couture pieces are the Zepherine dress, a 1958 off the shoulder, rouched, short, ball gown in hot pink, and the Piet Mondrian (modernist) inspired cocktail dress from 1965 with its distinctive block design.

It may blow the budget (call it an early Christmas present?), but Topshop's premium patchwork sheepskin coat is too good to be true when it comes to taking the modernist legacy forward.

At a not-so-modest £695, it embraces the same principles as YSL's '65 dress.

And get your very own Zepherine number from New Look at £49 in the form of their laced prom dress.