Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Mathieu Saint Laurent was born August 1, 1936 in Oran, Algeria. In 1953 at the age of 17 he travelled to Paris with his portfolio of sketches and met with the editor of French Vogue Michel de Brunhoff. Yves Saint Laurent enrolled in the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture school. Yves Saint Laurent started working for Christian Dior with the recommendation made by the French Vogue editor.

In 1957 the young Yves Saint Laurent completes a total of six collections for the house of Dior, beginning with the highly successful Trapeze collection. It was sounding success and built the platform and stepping stone for the future empire of Yves Saint Laurent. In 1958 Yves Saint Laurent meets Pierre Berg who becomes his business partner of YSL.

After setting up his own fashion house with Pierre Berg, Yves Saint Laurent launches his first fragrance called “Y” and continued to impress the fashion world. In 1966, he introduced le smoking, his legendary smoking suit. He is now credited with a range of other innovations including the reefer jacket, the sheer blouse, and the jumpsuit. This was a busy time for Yves Saint Laurent.

The designer, the visionary and the artistic Yves Saint Laurent continued to push the boundaries and shocked the fashion world on more than one occasion with his ready to wear collection to his “40s” collection that was launched in 1971.

YSL has well over 50 different fragrances under the designer house with the earliest editions originating from 1964. In 1964 Yves Saint Laurent launched its first perfume for women, called "Y". In 1977 Yves Saint Laurent launches the famous very popular “Opium” perfume for men and women. Opium breathed new life into the family of oriental perfumes. Yves Saint Laurent wanted to produce a perfume that evoked the Orient to capture the exotic spirit of Imperial China. In 1993 YSL brings out "Champagne", a perfume which was later renamed "Ivresse".

During his career, Yves Saint Laurent was arguably the industry's greatest designer. Over the years, he received countless awards. In 1985, he was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour by President François Mitterand. In that same year he also receives a fashion "Oscar" for Best Couturier. His status as a national icon was also celebrated when he put on a 300 model spectacle at the final of the 1998 World Cup in France. In 1999 the Council of Fashion Designers of America presents Yves Saint Laurent with the 'Lifetime Achievement.

In January 2002, the 65-year-old designer announced his retirement, paying tribute to his mentors, including Christian Dior, Balenciaga, Schiaparelli and Chanel. The French fashion legend Yves Saint Laurent, who changed the silhouette of 20th century woman with a daring new dress code, died at the age of 71.

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