Yves Saint Laurent Biography

(French Fashion Designer and Founder of His Eponymous Fashion Label)

Birthday: August 1, 1936 (Leo)

Born In: Oran, Algeria

Yves Henri Donat Matthieu Saint Laurent was an Algerian-French fashion designer who is one of the greatest and most celebrated icons of the fashion industry. World renowned since the age of 21 when he shot to fame as the savior of Christian Dior, he is credited with having introduced the tuxedo suit for women and was known for his use of non-European cultural references, and non-white models. Born and raised in colonial Algeria, he was taken in by Dior as an assistant while Yves was studying in Paris as a teenager. Addressed as a hero in France for saving the company after Dior's death, his world collapsed when he was conscripted into the French army and lost his job. At the time, his lover, Pierre Berge, came to his rescue and helped him to set up his own couture house. He opened his own fashion house and quickly emerged as one of the most influential designers in Paris. With an amazing business acumen, his firm dominated fashion throughout the 1960-70s, making him fabulously wealthy. But the pressures of fame and the commercial constraints of fashion took a toll on him. The charismatic young man fell prey to addiction and depression, retreating from the world to live as a recluse. As he withdrew, his financial affairs came under scrutiny, culminating in the sale of his empire to a state-controlled company. He was a renowned designer who changed the way women dress with a series of innovations which are now regarded as classics.
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Quick Facts

French Celebrities Born In August

Also Known As: Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent

Died At Age: 71

Family:

father: Charles Mathieu-Saint-Laurent

mother: Lucienne Andrée Mathieu-Saint-Laurent

siblings: Brigitte Mathieu-Saint-Laurent, Michelle Mathieu-Saint-Laurent

Born Country: Algeria

Fashion Designers French Men

Died on: June 1, 2008

place of death: Paris, France

Cause of Death: Brain Cancer

Notable Alumni: Chambre Syndicale De La Haute Couture

Founder/Co-Founder: Yves Saint Laurent Couture House, House of Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent perfumes and colognes, Vouguepedia

More Facts

education: Chambre Syndicale De La Haute Couture

awards: 2007 - Grand officier de la Légion d'honneur

  • 1

    What is the history of Yves Saint Laurent?

    Yves Saint Laurent was a French fashion designer who founded his own fashion house in 1961. He is known for revolutionizing women's fashion with his innovative designs, such as the tuxedo suit for women and the Mondrian dress.
  • 2

    What are some iconic designs by Yves Saint Laurent?

    Some of the iconic designs by Yves Saint Laurent include the safari jacket, the peasant blouse, the sheer blouse, the smoking jacket, and the Le Smoking tuxedo suit for women.
  • 3

    How did Yves Saint Laurent influence the fashion industry?

    Yves Saint Laurent is credited with introducing women's trousers to high fashion, popularizing ready-to-wear clothing, and challenging traditional gender norms in fashion with his androgynous designs. He also popularized the use of non-European cultural influences in fashion.
  • 4

    What is the significance of the Yves Saint Laurent logo?

    The Yves Saint Laurent logo, featuring intertwined letters "YSL," is an iconic symbol of the fashion house. It represents the legacy and elegance of the brand, often seen on products such as handbags, shoes, and accessories.
  • 5

    How has Yves Saint Laurent's legacy influenced contemporary fashion?

    Yves Saint Laurent's legacy continues to inspire contemporary fashion designers with his innovative designs, bold use of color, and boundary-pushing silhouettes. His impact on the fashion industry can be seen in modern interpretations of classic YSL styles and his continued influence on haute couture.
Childhood & Early Life
He was born on August 1, 1936, in Oran, Algeria, to Charles Saint Laurent, a lawyer and insurance broker, and his wife, Lucienne Mathieu. He was the eldest child of the family with two younger sisters, Michèle and Brigitte.
From a young age, he was a nervous child and mostly remained sick. He had a keen interest in creating intricate paper dolls, and by his early teen years he was designing dresses for his mother and sisters.
After completing his secondary education in Algeria, he moved to Paris to pursue a career in designing theatrical costumes and women’s fashion. He attended fashion school at the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, for a short time and won first prize in an international design contest.
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Career
In Paris, he showed his drawings to Michel de Brunhoff, director of French ‘Vogue’ magazine, who published several of them immediately. Following a stint at fashion school, he was introduced to Christian Dior, a legendary fashion designer, who immediately offered him a job at his firm.
In 1957, he became the head designer of the House of Christian Dior S.A. After taking over as art director for Dior, he launched his first collection for the company, the Ligne Trapéze.
In 1960, he introduced the chic beatnik look of turtlenecks and black leather jackets edged with fur. The same year, he was conscripted to serve in the French Army during the Algerian War of Independence and lost his job at Dior.
His lover, Pierre Burge, came to his rescue and helped him set up his own fashion house, ‘Yves Saint Laurent’ (YSL) in 1962 with funds from J. Mack Robinson, an Atlanta millionaire.
In 1966, he introduced ‘Le Smoking’, his legendary smoking suit. His other innovations include the sheer blouse (1966), and the jumpsuit (1968). Throughout the years, he continued to design both the YSL haute couture and pret-a-porter collections, continuously refining his timeless, elegant designs for sophisticated women.
In October 1998, he showed his last ready-to-wear collection for the Rive Gauche label, which he had founded more than 30 years before.
In 2002, he did his last show and took his final bow in the fashion industry.
Major Works
His spring 1958 collection almost certainly saved the enterprise Christian Dior S.A from financial ruin; 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".
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In the 1960s and 1970s, the firm popularized 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 “Le Smoking”. By feminizing the basic shapes of the male wardrobe, YSL set new standards for world fashion.
Awards & Achievements
In 1983, he became the first living fashion designer to be honored by the Metropolitan Museum of Art with a solo exhibition.
In 2001, he was conferred with the rank of the ‘Commander of the Légion d'Honneur’ by French president Jacques Chirac.
In 2007, he was awarded the rank of the ‘Grand Officier de la Légion d'honneur’ by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Personal Life & Legacy
He was involved in a romantic relationship with industrialist Pierre Bergé, with whom he also started their own fashion house. The couple split romantically in 1976 but remained business partners.
He died on June 1, 2008 of brain cancer at his residence in Paris, after a long illness. He received a Catholic funeral at St Roch Catholic Church in Paris and after cremation, his ashes were scattered in Marrakech, Morocco, in the Majorelle Garden.
Facts About Yves Saint Laurent
Yves Saint Laurent was known for his love of animals, particularly his French Bulldog named Moujik who often accompanied him to work in his design studio.
Despite his success in the fashion industry, Yves Saint Laurent struggled with personal demons and openly spoke about his battles with depression and addiction.
Yves Saint Laurent was one of the first designers to feature non-white models on the runway, showcasing his commitment to diversity and inclusivity in the fashion world.
Yves Saint Laurent was a talented artist and often found inspiration for his designs from famous works of art, blending his passion for fashion with his love of the arts.
Yves Saint Laurent was a pioneer in women's fashion, revolutionizing the industry by introducing ready-to-wear clothing lines that made high fashion more accessible to a wider audience.

See the events in life of Yves Saint Laurent in Chronological Order

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- Yves Saint Laurent Biography
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