Known as the "King of Fashion" Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) was one of the most influential designers in the world of fashion. He started his career working for Christian Dior and three years after Dior died, Saint Laurent became the Haute Couture designer at the age of 21. In his first collection, he introduced the trapeze dress- a design based on the shape of a trapezoid. Saint Laurent was replaced at Dior when he went to fulfill military obligations.
He then went on to open his own couture house, Rive Gauche, designs for both men and women. Saint Laurent was known to use ethnic traits as inspiration for his designs. He also liked to use bright colors and contrast them with black. Some of his most famous trademarks are the "Le Smoking" tuxedo jacket, see-through blouses, peasant blouses, bolero jackets, pantsuits and smocks.
Saint Laurent's designs have always maintained the highest standard for classic cuts and tailoring. He received the most prestigious honors in the world of fashion over his 45-year career and truly created an iconic brand. YSL is responsible for changing the way modern women dress, putting them into pants both in the day and night. This revolutionary idea broke the mold in women's fashion. He often was quoted saying all woman needed to be fashionable was a pair of pants, a sweater and a raincoat. Yves Saint Laurent died in June 2008 in his apartment in Paris. He was 71.
Bibliography:
Living for Design: The Yves Saint Laurent Story, by Axel Madsen. Delacorte Press, New York, NY, 1979.
http://www.infomat.com/whoswho/yvessaintlaurent.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/02/fashion/02laurent.html
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