Yves Saint Laurent was the last living icon of the old school of fashion.
Monsieur Saint Laurent died Sunday 1st June 2008, at age 71, from the effects of brain cancer, at his residence in Paris.

'Yves Saint Laurent infused his label with his creative genius, elegant
and refined personality... because he was convinced that beauty was a
necessary luxury for all men and all women,' French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced in tribute.

Saint Laurent was born in August 1st, 1936 in Oran, Algeria.
At the age of 17 he had won the first prize in a contest for a cocktail dress design.

He studied only for three months at the Chambre Syndicale School of haute couture.

He was hired by Christian Dior who was very impressed with Saint Laurent’s talent.

In 1962 he opened his own haute couture fashion house.

“Saint Laurent empowered women after Chanel had freed them” - Pierre Berge – business partner and former romantic partner of Saint Laurent.

He retired from the fashion world in January 2002 at the age of 65.

The navy blue pea coat over white pants from the 1962 collection became his signature. He invented the famous black smocking.

Saint Laurent had revolutionized haute couture, being the true inspiration for many young designers of the present day.

Au revoir Monsieur Saint Laurent!