NEW YORK – Fashion great Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent turns 70 today.
Four years ago, on January 7, 2002 Yves Saint Laurent announced his retirement, effectively closing the door on a lifelong career. In 2002, Yves Saint Laurent the fashion house was 40 years-old and its send-off included two documentaries, a celebrated runway show and a subsequent rush by consumers to get their hands on every last bit of YSL before it was too late.
Saint Laurent’s success is particularly remarkable viewed through the lens of his less-than-glamorous upbringing. The fledgling artist was brought up in Oran, Algiers with dreams of a glamorous life far beyond his reach. Thanks to numerous contest winnings as a teen, Saint Laurent found himself in fashion’s capital, Paris, at age 19, under the mentorship of Christian Dior. Following Dior’s sudden heart attack in October 1957, Saint Laurent was abruptly ushered into the spotlight, shouldering a design empire at the age of 21.
Though he was often racked with psychological and financial misfortune, Saint Laurent’s undeniable artistry and partner Pierre Berge’s shrewd business transactions – YSL skyrocketed to its rightful post, where it remains, among the fashion legends.
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Here is a look back on the genius of Saint Laurent:
Monday, January 7, 2002
Yves Saint Laurent Closing the Door
The end of an epoch.