One of the most important fashion designers of the 20th century is Yves Saint Laurent. His contributions altered public perceptions of clothing and style in addition to influencing the fashion industry. Laurent, who was born in 1936 in Algeria, moved to Paris to follow his passion for design after showcasing his talent at an early age.
With his avant-garde designs, Laurent quickly established himself during his time working for Christian Dior. He stood out from his peers because of his ability to combine elegance with a contemporary edge. He established his own fashion house in 1961, and it quickly gained recognition for its stylish, avant-garde collections that challenged conventional wisdom.
Yves Saint Laurent was renowned for breaking conventional gender stereotypes in fashion throughout his career with pieces like the tuxedo jacket for women. Designers are still influenced by his work, and the Yves Saint Laurent brand, which is still associated with sophistication and luxury, is a living testament to his legacy.
- List of brief information about the fashion designer
- Childhood and youth
- Education and early career
- Career milestones
- Selling a fashion designer"s brand
- Influence on fashion
- Collections
- Personal life
- When and how he died, where he was buried
- Testament
- Main merits and achievements
- Related Videos
- List of Interesting Facts
- The designer"s brand today
- Video on the topic
- YVES SAINT LAURENT brand history
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List of brief information about the fashion designer
- Full name: Yves Henri Donat Mathieu Saint Laurent.
- Years of life: August 1, 1936 – June 1, 2008.
- Place of birth: Oran, French Algeria.
- Nationality: French.
- Height and weight: 175 cm, 65 kilograms.
- Profession: Costume designer, fashion designer.
- Marital status: Was in a same-sex marriage with Pierre Berger.
- Parents: Charles and Lucien Andre Mathieu Saint Laurent.
The life and career of Yves Saint Laurent bear witness to his extraordinary talent and forward-thinking vision, which transformed the fashion industry. From his modest beginnings at Dior to the establishment of his own legendary brand, Saint Laurent’s career is characterized by audacious designs that subverted expectations and had a long-lasting influence on the fashion industry. He is one of the most renowned and significant designers in history because of the way his legacy continues to shape contemporary fashion.
Childhood and youth
The future fashion designer was raised in an affluent, aristocratic family in Oran. He has never been without love since his mother encouraged him and tried to inculcate a love for the arts in him. When it was time, Yves enrolled in a rigorous Catholic school.
Little Saint Laurent lived a double life. While attending a Catholic school, he endured bullying from his peers due to their modesty and tendency of "flying in the clouds." At home, he fulfilled his dreams and reflected them in drawings, scenery, and costumes.
Education and early career
Following his graduation from a Catholic school in 1953, the aspiring fashion designer enrolled in fine arts classes. He then chose to compete in the annual International Wool Secretariat competition, placing third.
Nevertheless, the couturier’s evening dress won first place at the same competition a year later. Then, Yves Saint Laurent caught the eye of Michel de Brunhoff, the chief editor of French Vogue. At his suggestion, some of the young fashion designer’s sketches were published in the magazine, which helped launch his career.
Career milestones
Michel was the one who brought the two fashion designers together, and it was through him that Saint Laurent started working as Christian Dior’s assistant in 1955. The young man’s initial tasks included making accessories and setting up the studio, but he later had another chance to show off his skills when he was asked to submit multiple sketches for the company’s next collection. Dior thought he had a great gift because every year, more and more of Saint Laurent’s creations were added to the collection.
The brand’s investors decide to take a chance and offer Laurent the opportunity to take the reins himself following the passing of their teacher, Christian. With only a few months to go before the new collection is released, Yves managed to prepare over five hundred sketches in the shortest amount of time.
A new era was ushered in with Saint Laurent’s first collection as head of Dior, "Trapeze," which created a stir in the fashion world and media. Sadly, it was short-lived, as those who had replaced Christian Dior with the young Laurent soon attempted to have him removed because they disapproved of the fashion designer’s attempts to "rejuvenate" the brand.
The couturier, unwilling to quit his cherished job, sued them and, with the help of his new friend Pierre Berger, won the case. We were all allowed to enter the already famous Yves Saint Laurent home thanks to funding from Dior investors. One of the partnerships between the luxury brand and the mass market is CA and Yves Saint Laurent. The goal of its release was to increase public accessibility to high fashion.
Selling a fashion designer"s brand
The fashion house was acquired by the multinational pharmaceutical company Sanofi in 1993, but the designer continued to lead his creation. It was resold to the Kering group of companies in 1999, though, and did not remain under the new owner’s ownership for very long.
Influence on fashion
The first collection to be released under the "roof of Dior" demonstrated Saint Laurent’s immediate influence on fashion; his dresses stood out for their angularity, which contrasted sharply with the rounded lines of Christian Dior’s collections, which drew in a younger, more sophisticated clientele.
The world was shown by the couture in 1962 that women could also wear double breasted suits and how they should be worn on girls.
Additionally, the women’s tuxedo was introduced in 1966, making Saint Laurent a legend during his lifetime. He is thus remembered in the annals of fashion as "The fashion designer who did not recognize gender divisions in clothing."
Collections
The following collections are created by Yves Saint Laurent throughout his career in the fashion industry:
- 1958 "Trapezoid" — shortened trousers and a woolen coat (more reminiscent of a sailor’s peacoat) for young girls are presented;
- 1960 “Beatnik” – the fashion designer presented dresses with an A-line silhouette and geometric patterns, unusual to the fashion world;
- 1962 – first women"s double-breasted suit, transparent blouse;
- 1966 – legendary collection of tuxedos for women;
- 1968 – a collection in camouflage style, released at the height of the Vietnam War.
Personal life
Saint Laurent’s friend, business associate, and common-law spouse was Pierre Berger. Pierre assisted his friend in filing and winning a lawsuit against Dior investors who wanted to fire the fashion designer, keeping Yves in his position of leadership.
Bergé sold what Laurent created, and it seemed like the perfect match. It actually was, as they both performed their jobs admirably despite not understanding one another’s businesses. But they broke up in 1976 after their first relationship as a couple. The fashion designer was not only a renowned partygoer at BDSM parties, but also a lifelong drug and alcohol addict.
When the pair did eventually reconcile in 2008, Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent were legally wed.
When and how he died, where he was buried
The fashion designer stayed by himself in his own Marracash villa, Majorale, for the final months of his life. His carefree youth had compromised his health, and in 2008 he was forced to return to Paris for treatment on a brain tumor. On June 1, 2008, Yves Henri Donat Mathieu passed away in Saint Laurent due to brain cancer. After being cremated, the ashes were dispersed throughout Villa Majorel.
Testament
The AIDS Foundation benefited from the sale of the legendary fashion designer’s enormous collection of artwork, which brought in a record 373.5 million euros after his death.
Main merits and achievements
Yves Saint Laurent won numerous honors and accolades during his career in the fashion industry, including:
- 1966 – Oscar from Harper"s Bazaar magazine;
- 1981 – Fashion Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America;
- 1985 – received the title of "Knight of the Legion of Honor";
- 1998-1999 – Geoffrey Beene Award for contribution to the world of fashion;
- 2001 – Commander of the Legion of Honor;
- 2007 – Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor.
Related Videos
Yves Saint Laurent is also discussed in the following video:
List of Interesting Facts
- The appearance of pantsuits, tuxedos, transparent blouses, trench coats in the women"s wardrobe – all this is due to Saint Laurent.
- The famous perfumes from YSL called "Opium" were never sold in China, the designer was categorically against changing their name.
- He was a great admirer of art, which allowed him to turn his villa into a real museum of luxury and taste. Now part of the collected collection is presented in the Gabriel Castle in Britain.
- Yves Saint Laurent Pour Homme is a men"s perfume that was a self-portrait of Saint Laurent, in their advertising the designer himself starred naked.
- In parallel with the creation of haute couture items, the couturier actively creates costumes for theaters and scenery for ballets.
The designer"s brand today
Saint Laurent’s ideas were modified by the fashion house YSL in order to maximize profits and gain notoriety for the company.
The brand was renamed to Saint Laurent in 2012 by Hedi Slimane, the new creative director, following a series of disagreements. The customary trio of characters was kept for accessories and makeup.
The relocation of the design studio to California, where rock and roll now predominates in the shows and the girls look more like biker dreams, is another significant shift in modern times.
Year | Event |
1936 | Yves Saint Laurent is born in Oran, Algeria. |
1953 | Wins third prize in the International Wool Secretariat competition, marking his entry into the fashion world. |
1957 | Becomes head designer at Christian Dior after Dior"s death. |
1961 | Launches his own fashion house, Yves Saint Laurent YSL, with his partner Pierre Bergé. |
1966 | Introduces the iconic "Le Smoking" tuxedo for women. |
1983 | Becomes the first living designer to have a solo exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. |
2002 | Retires from the fashion industry after his final show. |
2008 | Yves Saint Laurent passes away in Paris, France. |
Yves Saint Laurent’s extraordinary inventiveness and vision are demonstrated by his journey from a young designer in Oran to a global fashion icon. In addition to redefining women’s fashion, his work introduced ground-breaking concepts that still have an impact on the sector today.
Saint Laurent’s legacy extends beyond the catwalk thanks to the company that still carries his name. He has become a symbol of elegance and innovation because of his daring to defy expectations and his commitment to artistic expression.
Aspiring designers continue to draw inspiration from Yves Saint Laurent’s life and career, which serves as a testament to the strength of perseverance, passion, and a dedication to pushing the envelope of creativity.