YVES SAINT LAURENT DESIGNER HISTORY
Yves Saint Laurent was born in 1936 in Oran, Algeria. After studying in Paris he worked for designer Christian Dior. When Yves Saint Laurent was just 21 years old, Christian Dior died suddenly and Saint Laurent became Haute Couture designer for House of Dior. In his first collection as Haute Couture designer he introduced the trapeze dress to the world and became an international household name seemingly overnight. In 1962 he established his own couture house. In addition to the trapeze dress, he is known for popularizing safari jackets and thigh-high boots and being the first French haute couturier to develop a ready-to-wear line.
Yves Saint Laurent won many awards in his lifetime including the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur by French president, Francois Mitterand and a fashion Oscar for Best Couturier. He was also the first living fashion designer honored with a solo exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
