Yves St. Laurent Bags Handbags Company History.
"I think it's more interesting to see the body of a woman when she wears something free, something loose." (November 8, 1965)
More than any other single fashion designer, Yves Saint Laurent is responsible for informing the way that modern women and men dress. Born in French Algeria in 1936, he came to Paris at age 17 after winning third prize in a prestigious fashion competition.
He attended fashion school for a time and soon came to the attention of the great French designer Christian Dior, who was impressed with Saint Laurent's superb drawing ability. He became Dior's most trusted assistant, and when the latter died in 1957, Saint Laurent became--at age 21--head of one of the most famous fashion houses in the world.
His first Dior collection was a triumph, and in the late 1950s he popularized such styles as the chic beatnik look. After a break with Dior, he set up his own couture house in 1961. In 1966 he introduced the first female tuxedo--a scandal at the time but now regarded as a turning point in women's fashion.
That year, he also became the first major designer to open a ready-to-wear boutique. Saint Laurent made it acceptable for women to wear trousers and was also the first designer to use transparent materials. In 1983, a retrospective of his work was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Here are a few excerpts from Yves address on the 7th of January, 2002:
"Today I would like to pay tribute to all those who have influenced me, guided my actions, and served as a reference to me.
"First and foremost, I would like to pay tribute to Christian Dior, my master, who was instrumental in revealing to me the secrets and mysteries of haute couture. I do not forget Balenciaga, Schiaparelli, and, of course, Chanel, who taught me so much and who, as we all know, liberated women. It was this that enabled me, years later, to give women supremacy and, in a way, to liberate fashion.
"By opening the world’s first prêt-à-porter boutique from a grand couturier in 1966 and by creating clothes that fell outside the realms of haute couture, I realize that I helped to advance the fashion of my time by allowing women access to a universe that had previously been inaccessible to them."
"In 1962 I had the opportunity to create my own couture house. That was 40 years ago. I would like to thank all those who from the outset had faith in me.
"I would also like to thank the women, be they famous or unknown, who have worn my clothes, remaining so faithful to me, and bringing me so much joy.
"Over these many years, I feel that I have carried out my work with unflinching professionalism. I have made no concessions. I have always placed a respect for this profession above all else. While not exactly an art, it nonetheless requires an artist for it to exist. I do not believe that I have betrayed the adolescent who showed his first sketches to Christian Dior with such unshakeable faith and conviction. That same faith and conviction has never deserted me.
"The next show to which I invite you, on Tuesday 22nd January 2002 at 6.00 pm in the Centre Georges Pompidou, will be largely composed of a retrospective of my work. Many of you already know the models that will be shown. I am naïve enough to believe that they are able to resist the attacks of time and that they still have their place in today’s world.
"Last but not least, I would like to thank all of you who are here and all those who cannot be, for your loyal presence at the many rendezvous that I have given you over the years. Thank you for your support, your understanding and your love.
"I shall not forget you."
- Yves Saint Laurent
