Skip to content

(1936 – 2008) Yves Saint Laurent went to Paris at age 17 to find work in fashion. He was soon hired by Christian Dior as an assistant. They worked together for several years, and when Dior died in 1957, Saint Laurent was made the head designer. His first collection, Spring 1958, was called the Trapeze, and was an immediate hit.

But subsequent collections were not so well received, and when Saint Laurent returned to Paris after a brief time in the army, he found that he had been replaced at Dior by Marc Bohan. In 1962 he opened his own couture house. Rive Gauche, his ready-to-wear line, was established in 1966.

Saint Laurent’s influence was immediate and far-reaching. Among his successes – the Mondrian collection in 1965, Le Smoking tuxedo suits of 1967 and beyond, the Safari suits of 1968 and the Russian inspired collection of 1976.

The Yves Saint Laurent Encore line was a secondary label introduced in 1993 for the US market.

Saint Laurent retired in 2002. His couture atelier was closed, but the Rive Gauche line continued to be designed by Tom Ford, who started there in 2000. In 2004, Ford left Saint Laurent, and Ford’s assistant Stefano Pilati was named the new creative director. In 2012 Pilati was dismissed, and Hedi Slimane was named the new designer. Also in 2012, the name of the company was changed to Saint Laurent Paris.

Yves Saint Laurent died in 2008.

Written by fuzzylizzie

See vintage Yves Saint Laurent from VFG members on Etsy (paid link)


from a 1965 dress - Courtesy of kickshawproductions.com

from a 1965 dress

Courtesy of kickshawproductions.com

from a 1960s hat - Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com

from a 1960s hat

Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com

from a 1960s full length skirt - Courtesy of PoppysVintageClothing

from a 1960s full length skirt

Courtesy of PoppysVintageClothing

from a late 1960s military jacket - Courtesy of catbooks1940s

from a late 1960s military jacket

Courtesy of catbooks1940s

from a late 1960s cape - Courtesy of Annabel Lee

from a late 1960s cape

Courtesy of Annabel Lee

from a 1970s safari-type jacket - Courtesy of catbooks1940s

from a 1970s safari-type jacket

Courtesy of catbooks1940s

from a 1970s mens coat - Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from a 1970s mens coat

Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from a 1970s hat - Courtesy of Poppy's Vintage Clothing

from a 1970s hat

Courtesy of Poppy’s Vintage Clothing

from a 1970s necktie - Courtesy of Ranchqueenvintage

from a 1970s necktie

Courtesy of Ranchqueenvintage

from a 1970s couture suit - Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from a 1970s couture suit

Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from a 1980s sport jacket - Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from a 1980s sport jacket

Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from a c.1983-1984 peasant outfit - Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing

from a c.1983-1984 peasant outfit

Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing

from a 1980s suit - Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from a 1980s suit

Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from an early 1980s suit - Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com

from an early 1980s suit

Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com

from an early 1990s skirt - Courtesy of denisebrain

from an early 1990s skirt

Courtesy of denisebrain

from a 1990s jacket - Courtesy of Claire Shaeffer

from a 1990s jacket

Courtesy of Claire Shaeffer

from a c. 1996 couture blouse - Courtesy of modamuzesi

from a c. 1996 couture blouse

Courtesy of modamuzesi

from 2002 haute couture tuxedo suit - Courtesy of modamuzesi

from 2002 haute couture tuxedo suit

Courtesy of modamuzesi

from a 2005 dress - Courtesy of antiquedress.com

from a 2005 dress

Courtesy of antiquedress.com