Few gentlemen have been as influential in 20th century fashion as
Yves Saint-Laurent. Born in Algeria, Saint-Laurent moved to Paris as a teenager to work for the house of
Christian Dior and soon after started his own house
YSL.
In fashion he blazed the path for many of the greatest trends of the past half-century. He was perhaps the first to begin to incorporate androgynous, and even overtly masculine, elements into womens wear. Blazers, vest, safari jackets and trousers were incorporated into his styles with saavy and flattering adjustments for the female form. In the early 60s, this was both socially and politically daring, though this was of secondary concern to the designer. While adapting menswear and street-wear for his chic female clients, Yves perfected his best known and most famous look,
Le Smoking, a tuxedo for women. Skinny pants, a white shirt and a fitted blazer, the look has been re-created myriad times.
In the early 20th century, however, there was a much firmer line between couturiers and their customers.
Yves Saint-Laurent, however, sought inspiration any way he could find it, from the art he adored to the young aristocrats he encountered, some of whom became his celebrated muses. It is surely not a coincidence that the chicest tote bag on Robertson Blvd and 5th Avenue for the past 2 years has been the
YSL “Muse” bag.
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