At age 17, Saint Laurent started his career in haute couture at the famous fashion house of Christian Dior. In 1957 when Dior died suddenly, Saint Laurent was named head of the House of Dior (at 21 I could barely sell clothes never mind run a house of couture and design amazing high fashion). Then in 1962 he and a partner started the YSL label.
He was well-known for popularizing the beatnik look, safari jackets and tuxedo suit for women. His swingy little trapeze dresses were cute, but nothing compared to the ultra sexy "le smoking" suit shown below (fabulous! the epitome of sultry!).
Over the years Saint Laurent was seen as a scandalous figure (posing nude to promote his perfume, suffering depression, abusing drugs—shocking back then but nothing compared to today’s celebs) and yet a national treasure (he was awarded the Legion d'Honneur in France). In 1983, He was the first living designer to be honored with a show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Despite its ups and downs over the years, including the 2002 closing of the couture house, the YSL brand still lives on today under the parent company Gucci Group (which also includes high end brands like Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen and more). In October 2007 the YSL brand website opened its online shopping to the US market (knock yourselves out America!).
I for one am grateful for Yves Saint Laurent’s fashion contributions, without them there may not be women’s pant suits as we know and love them today, and that my friends, would truly be a fashion tragedy.
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