Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Saint Laurent (pronounced: eev saan law-raan), one of the most influential designers of the 20th century, was born in Oran, Algeria, in 1936 to French parents. His talent emerged early, winning an international design competition that led him to Paris to study at the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. There, Christian Dior took notice his potential, recruiting him as an assistant.

At just 21, Saint Laurent was named head designer at Dior's following the founder’s sudden death in 1957, an appointment that placed him at the helm of one of the era’s most powerful fashion houses. His tenure was cut short when he was conscripted into the army, a disruption that ultimately led to his departure from Dior. In 1961, he launched his own label, Yves Saint Laurent (YSL), with business partner Pierre Bergé. The brand quickly rose to prominence, propelled by the success of its Rive Gauche line, which redefined luxury by introducing ready-to-wear fashion and expanding into handbags, belts and leather goods.

Saint Laurent retired in 2002 and lived largely out of the public eye until his death in 2008. Since then, the house has been led by a succession of designers, most notably Tom Ford and Hedi Slimane. Since 2016, Anthony Vaccarello has served as creative director, continuing to shape the brand’s legacy of elegance and provocation with a modern interpretation.