Yves Saint Laurent (Designer)

Summary

Yves Saint Laurent (1936-2008) was a French fashion designer who, in 1961, founded became popular in fashion circles due to his creativity in redesigning the clothes considered to be masculine into beautiful, feminine wardrobe for women. Perhaps, one of the most famous fashion designers in France, Yves was the first one to introduce power dressing for women in the form of “power suits” in the year 1966. He is also credited with designing the men’s smoking jacket. The most important fashion legacy which he has left behind is the “ready-to-wear” fashion clothing.

He was born to French parents in French Algeria, in 1936  At the age of 17, Saint Laurent moved to Paris and enrolled at the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, where his designs quickly gained notice. Michel De Brunhoff, the editor of French Vogue, introduced Saint Laurent to designer Christian Dior who became one of his main mentors and influences.

YSL founder

YSL (Yves Saint Laurent) was founded by Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé, in 1961. YSL was a pioneer in creating modern and iconic designs, such as the tuxedo jacket for women, “Le Smoking.” Its innovative approach to fashion established YSL as a trailblazer in integrating the codes of haute couture into ready-to-wear collections.

Yves Saint Laurent birthplace

Yves Saint Laurent was born in Oran, Algeria, which at the time was part of French Algeria, on August 1, 1936.

Is YSL French?

YSL is considered a French fashion brand. Although its founder, Yves Saint Laurent, was born in Oran, Algeria, which was part of French Algeria at the time, he moved to Paris, France, in his late teens to pursue a career in fashion. The luxury fashion brand itself was established in Paris in 1961, and it is deeply rooted in French fashion traditions and culture. Today YSL is recognized as one of the iconic names in French haute couture and luxury fashion.

Biography

Young life and career

In 1953, Saint Laurent submitted three sketches to a contest for young fashion designers organised by the International Wool Secretariat. Saint Laurent won first place. Subsequently, he was invited to attend the awards ceremony held in Paris in December of that same year.  During his stay in Paris, Saint Laurent met Michel de Brunhoff (who was then editor-in-chief of the French edition of Vogue magazine and a connection of his father). De Brunhoff, known by some as a considerate person who encouraged new talent, was impressed by the sketches Saint Laurent brought with him and suggested he become a fashion designer.

He began working for Dior as a young man. Although Dior recognised his talent immediately, Saint Laurent spent his first year at the House of Dior on mundane tasks, such as decorating the studio and designing accessories. Eventually, however, he was allowed to submit sketches for the couture collection; with every passing season, more of his sketches were accepted by Dior.

After the early death of Christian Dior at only 53, Saint Laurent found himself  at age 21 as the head designer of the House of Dior. the straight line of his creations, a softer version of Dior’s New Look, catapulted him to international stardom with what would later be known as the “trapeze dress”.

In 1960 he and his partner, industrialist Pierre Bergé, started their own fashion house Yves Saint Laurent YSL with funds from American millionaire J. Mack Robinson. The couple split romantically in 1976 but remained business partners.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the firm popularised fashion trends such as the beatnik look; safari jackets for men and women; tight trousers; tall, thigh-high boots; and arguably the most famous classic tuxedo suit for women in 1966, Le Smoking. The 1965 Mondrian collection was particularly renowned.

The prêt-à-porter line became extremely popular with the public if not with the critics and eventually earned many times more for Saint Laurent and Bergé than the haute couture line. However, Saint Laurent, whose health had been precarious for years, became erratic under the pressure of designing two haute couture and two prêt-à-porter collections every year. He increasingly turned to alcohol and drugs. At some shows, he could barely walk down the runway at the end of the show, and he had to be supported by models.

In 1983, Saint Laurent became the first living fashion designer to be honoured by the Metropolitan Museum of Art with a solo exhibition. In 2001, he was awarded the rank of Commander of the Légion d’Honneur by French president Jacques Chirac. Saint Laurent retired in 2002 and became increasingly reclusive, living at his homes in Normandy and Morocco with his pet French Bulldog Moujik.

Yves Saint Laurent (brand)

Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) is an iconic French luxury fashion house founded in 1961 by designer Yves Saint Laurent and his business partner Pierre Bergé. Renowned for revolutionizing the fashion world, YSL was among the first to introduce the concept of luxury ready-to-wear fashion with the launch of its “Rive Gauche” collection in 1966, making high fashion more accessible to a wider audience. This shift was groundbreaking at the time, as it bridged the gap between haute couture and the emerging demand for prêt-à-porter, positioning YSL as a trailblazer in modern fashion. The brand became synonymous with innovative, bold designs that pushed traditional boundaries, such as the introduction of “Le Smoking,” a tuxedo jacket for women, which redefined femininity and power dressing.

YSL’s aesthetic was marked by a blend of elegance, modernity, and daring creativity. Yves Saint Laurent himself was known for drawing inspiration from art, culture, and history, incorporating elements from different eras and styles into his collections. The brand’s signature pieces, like the Mondrian dress, safari jackets, and pea coats, exemplified this artistic and eclectic approach. The use of masculine tailoring in women’s fashion was another hallmark of Saint Laurent’s work, a pioneering move that influenced generations of designers to come. This legacy of avant-garde and influential fashion secured YSL’s status as a central figure in the industry, embodying Parisian sophistication and fearless creativity.

Following Yves Saint Laurent’s retirement in 2002, the luxury fashion brand continued to evolve under various creative directors, each contributing their own vision while respecting the founder’s legacy. Under the leadership of Hedi Slimane, the brand notably rebranded its ready-to-wear line to Saint Laurent Paris in 2012, a move that brought a fresh, modern edge to the house. Today, YSL continues to be a global powerhouse in fashion, offering a range of luxury products, including apparel, accessories, leather goods, and beauty products. The brand’s ongoing commitment to blending timeless elegance with a contemporary spirit keeps it at the forefront of fashion innovation.

Current CEO and Creative Director of YSL

CEO – Ms. Francesca Bellettini

Ms. Francesca Bellettini has been the Chief Executive Officer and President of Yves Saint Laurent SAS at Kering SA since September 2013. From August 1994 to May 1996 Ms. Bellettini acquired professional experience working with Goldman Sachs, initially at their New York headquarters, then in London in the Investment Banking and Mergers & Acquisitions divisions. From July 1996 to March 1998 she worked in London with the Investment Banking Division of Deutsche Morgan Grenfell.

Creative Director – Anthony Vaccarello

Anthony Vaccarello was born 4 September 1982. He is a Belgian fashion designer and currently creative director at Yves Saint Laurent. Prior to this he held the position of creative director at Versus Versace, as well as designing his own eponymous line.

References

• Official website Yves Saint Laurent
• How Saint Laurent Built a Massive Cult of Influence GQ
• Saint Laurent: The Clothes Are the Message NY Times
• Yves Saint Laurent British Vogue
• Saint Laurent Fall 2023 Ready-to-Wear Vogue
• Saint Laurent Spring 2024 Menswear Vogue
• A Nude Dress That Isn’t: Saint Laurent; In a New Mad Mood NY Times
• LinkedIn page of Yves Saint Laurent LinkedIn
• Saint Laurent Has a New Name for Madison Ave – Rive Gauche NY Times
• Sustainability approach at YSL Yves Saint Laurent
• Saint Laurent: On the Scent of A New ‘Seduction’ Washington Post
• Facebook page of Yves Saint Laurent Facebook
• The unique sell of YSL Independent
• Instagram page of Yves Saint Laurent Instagram
• L’Amour Fou Yves Saint Laurent NY Times
• Twitter page of Yves Saint Laurent Twitter
• Yves Saint Laurent Biopic Wins Pierre Bergé’s Approval WWD
• Youtube channel of Yves Saint Laurent Youtube
• Obituary: Yves Saint Laurent The Telegraph
• Wiki page of Yves Saint Laurent Wikipedia