The "Eternal Style" of Yves Saint Laurent
The famous designer Yves Saint Laurent revolutionized the fashion world, creating a daring new femininity out of his sketches and great vision.
"Fashions fade, style is eternal", Yves Saint Laurent used to say.
Born on August 1, 1936, in a family of French aristocrats, in the Algerian city of Oran, the visionary couturier Yves Saint Laurent was destined to be a legend. It was not long till his name became synonymous with elegance and refinement.
A family legend says that Yves Saint Laurent discovered his taste for beautiful things when he was only three years old after he told an aunt that the shoes she was wearing did not match the dress. The woman was initially upset, but, looking more closely in the mirror, she agreed with her nephew.
At about the same age, Yves began making clothes sketches for dolls, and at the age of 13, he knew he would become a famous designer. His dream came true thanks to the encouragement of his mother, who was always by his side.
Yves Saint Laurent - The Rising of a Star
At the age of 17, Yves went to Paris, where he presented his drawings to the director of "Vogue" magazine, Michael de Brunhoff, who published them immediately, according to biography.com.After enrolling in a fashion and style school, he was introduced by his mentor to the "Christian Dior" fashion house, where he worked until Brunoff's death in 1957.
After taking over the management of the Christian Dior House, Yves Saint Laurent launched his first collection, entitled "Ligne Trapeze" which was a resounding success.
In 1960 he presented the revolutionary "Beat" collection, after which he left France to fulfill his mandatory military service, Agerpres reports.
The "YSL" Fashion House is Born
On December 4, 1961, Yves Saint Laurent created his own French luxury fashion house, together with Pierre Bergé, according to museeyslparis.com. Yves was in charge of the creation component, while Pierre Bergé managed the company.They created a brand whose logo, consisting of three chained black letters, spread rapidly throughout the world, symbolizing the "a la française" elegance.
The Saint Laurent Empire developed considerably. In addition to haute couture creations, the fashion house has produced collections for men, furs, jewelry, perfumes, as well as a wide range of accessories distributed around the world.
Yves Saint Laurent also collaborated with the world of cinema, being the creator of costumes for many branded films. Exhibitions dedicated to Yves Saint Laurent were opened in Paris, Moscow, Petersburg, Sydney, Tokyo.
The fashion house closed in 2002 when Yves decided to retire. Two years later, after the extensive renovation of the building, the Pierre Bergé - Yves Saint Laurent Foundation opened its doors.
Yves Saint Laurent Left the Spotlight
In 1985, the then President of France, François Mitterrand, awarded him the "Legion of Honor", the highest French distinction, and in 2007 he received from the former French President Nicolas Sarkozy the title of "Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor".On January 7, 2002, Yves Saint Laurent announced his retirement from the profession that made him known throughout the world. After this decision, he spent much of his time at his home in Marrakech, Morocco.
Yves Saint Laurent died after a long illness in his house in Paris on June 1, 2008. He was 71 years old. The funeral took place at Saint-Roch Church. The designer was cremated and the ashes kept in a grave in the Majorelle Gardens in Marrakech, which Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé bought in 1980.
Yves Saint Laurent: Style is Eternal | Full Documentary
Among the personalities who attended the funeral were actress Catherine Deneuve, former model Betty Catroux, fashion designers Kenzo Takada, Hubert de Givenchy, Christian Lacroix, John Galliano, Vivienne Westwood, Valentino, Ines de la Fressange, former President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni.
The legendary designer Yves Saint Laurent dominated the world of haute couture Olympics for almost half a century: he invented clothing items for women that are still fashionable today, such as the classic coat, the trouser suits, or the plaid skirt.
In January 2019, dresses created by Yves Saint Laurent for French actress Catherine Deneuve and Lebanese businesswoman Mouna Ayoub, considered a veritable foray into four decades of prestigious fashion history, were sold at an auction in Paris for 1.02 million dollars / 453,000 dollars, according to AFP.
The brilliant designer not only created fashion, but formed a style, and as fashion passes, his style remains.
