Yves Saint Laurent once said, “I wish I had invented blue jeans. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity...” If still alive today Levi Strauss, (inventor of today’s copper rivet jeans), would be saying the exact same about Yves Saint Laurent. Said to be one of the greatest fashion icons Yves Saint Laurent has contributed to the fashion world some of the greatest and unforgettable designs. Behind his incredible talent and passion for fashion lays the incredible seldom told story of Yves Saint Laurent.
Born into a wealthy French family in 1936 Yves Saint Laurent grew up in a sheltered childhood remaining unaffected by the crushing war in Europe. Oldest of three children and only boy Yves inherited his mother’s fashion sense. As a child he enjoyed acting out plays for his family in an empty room and reading theatre reviews in the Paris version of Vogue magazine. In these magazines the costumes and descriptions captivated him. At the young age 17 in 1955, Yves submitted fashion sketches in a contest for young designers. Though he did not win first place only winning third he caught the attention of Michel de Brunhoff, editor in chief at Paris Vogue magazine. Since then de Brunhoff kept a close eye on the budding talent of Yves Saint Laurent.
It was quickly after his next contest entry that Yves received his first big break. After winning the second contest he took some sketches to de Brunhoff. Little did he know that Christian Dior, a famous haute couturier had sketched and shown similar sketches to Brunhoff that very morning. Brunhoff immediately contacted Dior and had the sketches promptly sent to him. Christian Dior hired young Yves immediately. The next year Yves found himself the head designer of Dior, following the unexpected death of Christian Dior. It was this young designer’s fresh outlook and designs that saved the house of Dior with his spring line in 1958. He was such a valuable part of Dior that the new owner Marcel Boussac fought the governments draft on Yves for two years. But once Yves 1960 line had failed greatly, he was no longer a valuable asset. Yves was drafted for the French army in 1960 but lasted only twenty days due to mental stress and hazing, he was shortly their after sent to a mental health facility in Val-de-Grace. Matters got worse when he discovered here that he had been let go from Dior. That November he filled a lawsuit against Dior claiming a breach of contract. He won the lawsuit, and shortly after his release from the hospital he and his lover Pierre Berge opened their own fashion house.
Through his great trials and triumph’s Yves Saint Ives pulled through and made fashion history. Next time you see a woman’s pant suit/ tuxedo, tight pants, tall thigh boots you will know more about the great man who thought up, designed and created that original idea, a man whose story still inspires all those who come across it.
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