Yves Saint Laurent Edition Soir Chiffon Evening Dress circa 2009
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 56 in (142.24 cm)Marked Size: 36 (US)Bust: 38 in (96.52 cm)Waist: 31 in (78.74 cm)Hip: 38 in (96.52 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Boca Raton, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU73011301552
Yves Saint Laurent
French designer Yves Saint Laurent pioneered “cross-design” in fashion, taking inspiration from street trends to modernize haute couture.
Saint Laurent was the first to launch a ready-to-wear label, YSL Rive Gauche Prêt-à-Porter. He was the first couturier to open boutiques for both men and women. Using traditional menswear fabrics and designs for women, Saint Laurent also literally cross-dressed, giving men and women alike chic pant suits, elegant tuxedo jackets and urban safari gear.
By blurring gender-specific design, Saint Laurent empowered individual style while creating a scissor-sharp fashion aesthetic of sensual ease and beauty. Many of his designs are today considered timeless classics. Saint Laurent also consistently used Black models, like Mounia, Iman and Naomi Campbell, and he drew endless inspiration from different ethnicities and cultures, in no small part because of his Algerian roots.
Born to French parents in Oran, Algeria, in 1936, Saint Laurent went to Paris at age 17 to study fashion at the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. Just two years later, in 1955, his remarkable sketches were shown to Christian Dior, then the world’s reigning couturier, who hired him immediately.
Surprisingly soon thereafter, Dior publicly chose Saint Laurent as his successor, which sadly proved prescient when the fashion legend died unexpectedly, in 1957. A mere slip of a youth, the 21-year-old Saint Laurent was nevertheless up to the challenge. He shook the traditional couture clientele to its core with youthful silhouettes and styles like the A-line trapeze dress that hung with seeming effortlessness from the shoulders, the antithesis of the pinched waists and molded skirts that had been all the rage after the deprivations of World War II.
After a mandated spell in the torturous French military, Saint Laurent suffered a nervous breakdown and was dismissed by Dior in 1962. Out of the ashes rose the Age of Yves. With Pierre Bergé, his then-lover who became his lifelong business partner and friend, the designer founded Yves Saint Laurent YSL to encompass prêt-à-porter, or ready-to-wear. In 1966, they opened the first YSL Rive Gauche women’s boutique in Paris, followed soon thereafter by YSL Rive Gauche for men. Saint Laurent had given birth to a global brand.
His revolutionary Mondrian mini dress from 1965 is a core element of his fashion biography. It is a prime example of how Saint Laurent, an avid art lover and collector, looked to painters, from Goya to Picasso, Ingres to Matisse, for inspiration.
With its pure lines and hues, Mondrian’s ground-breaking 1935 color-block painting Composition C transmutes beautifully into a dress that is highly valued by collectors of contemporary fashion and widely copied commercially to this day. The design is the epitome of Saint Laurent’s aesthetic, requiring a meticulous hand-piecing of each color block so that, despite the body’s curves, the visual plane is as flat as a canvas when the garment is worn. Mondrian’s purity met its match in Saint Laurent.
“I am no longer concerned with sensation and innovation, but with the perfection of my style,” Saint Laurent said four years before retiring, in 2002. After a long period of ill health, he died at his home in Paris on June 1, 2008.
Browse an extraordinary collection of vintage Yves Saint Laurent evening dresses, shirts, handbags and other clothing and accessories today on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Boca Raton, FL
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 2 days of delivery.
- Jean Muir Dress Documented 1971 RareBy Jean MuirLocated in Boca Raton, FLThis Dress just takes my breath away! It is one of my favorites from Jean Muir. The fabric with a moire effect has incredible drape, that just flows and moves with your body. Empir...Category
1970s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Incredible Rare Issey Miyake Pleats Please Avant Garde Color Block DressBy Issey MiyakeLocated in Boca Raton, FLFuturistic designer Issey Miyake has mastered the technique of creating sculptural works of art in cloth. His innovative pattern cutting and signature use of micro pleating give his garments a unique form. As one of the earliest designers to take on this style of fashion, Miyake is held in high regard as a pioneer of these creative, out-of-this-world fashions. From the Pleats Please line, this rare collector’s dress is done in a pleated fabric in shades of midnight blue, electric purple, red, magenta, cerulean, chartreuse, brown, sage, and neon green. The bright colors have a prismatic quality that makes the dress pop visually, giving the eye something new to appreciate from each angle while elevating this garment to a work of art. The dress begins with a high straight neckline and long sleeves that reach the wrists. The front of the dress is fitted throughout, creating an elegant sheath that falls to a maxi length several inches above the ankles. The body of the dress is done in midnight blue pleats with a section of purple at the bust and a section of neon green near the hem that draws the eye. Thigh-high slits at each side of the dress allow for greater ease of movement while introducing a welcome risqué element that helps balance the volume of material on display. Size: Small Measurements: Bust: 32 inches Waist: 30 inches Length: 50 inches An incredible panel at the back of the dress is made up of a vivid patchwork of color-blocked fabric, adding extra depth and gravitas to this Avant Garde masterpiece. The top of the panel can be folded over the front of the shoulders to create a curving, cocoon-like shawl, or folded together at the back like wings at rest. The panel spans the entire length of the dress and is slightly higher at the neck, adding volume and a delightful sculptural element to the otherwise columnar silhouette of the dress. An unforgettable addition to the discerning fashion lover’s wardrobe, this rare Issey Miyake Pleats Please dress is the perfect choice for a wedding, gala, or special occasion, and is sure to turn heads for many years to come. This vintage Issey Miyake dress...Category
1990s Japanese Evening Dresses and Gowns
- 1975 Gina Fratini Elizabeth Taylor Ombre Chiffon Wedding Dress DocumentedBy Gina FratiniLocated in Boca Raton, FLShe got married in a traditional white gown, modest flared suit, hooded green silk dress and a canary yellow babydoll, each of which was as spectacular as Elizabeth Taylor herself. B...Category
1970s British Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Lanvin Alber Elbaz Spring 2015 One Shoulder Chevron Striped Jersey DressLocated in Boca Raton, FLFrom the Spring 2015 collection, with the 125th anniversary label. Done in a viscose & elastane blend, which allows for a beautiful drape and some stretch. The top portion is a doub...Category
2010s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Vintage Red Navy Creme Striped Silk Halter Gown Feather Shawl, 1970sLocated in Boca Raton, FLThis vintage 1970s gown ensemble is a true treasure. Custom made from a satin striped silk, this dress boasts a simple design and high-quality cra...Category
1970s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Mollie Parnis Emerald Green Mock Neck Sequin Dress, 1960sBy Mollie ParnisLocated in Boca Raton, FLGaining commercial success in the 1940s, Mollie Parnis was an early American designer who was greatly revered for her chic yet conservative looks as well as one of the earliest Ameri...Category
1960s American Evening Dresses
- S/S 2002 Gianni Versace by Donatella Purple Lace-Up Eyelet DressBy Gianni Versace Couture, Donatella VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a purple plunging eyelet dress designed by Donatella for the Gianni Versace Spring/Summer 2002 collection. The eyelets that cover every inch of this dress give it a flirty...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Arnold Scaasi Purple One Shoulder Textured Gown, 1960sBy Arnold ScaasiLocated in West Palm Beach, FLArnold Scaasi Purple One Shoulder Textured Gown - 8 - 60's This spectacular and unique one shoulder textured gown has a straight fit and an extra layer that comes across the front an...Category
1960s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Nina Ricci Couture Dress Collection Jeune Femme, 1970sBy Nina RicciLocated in Toulon, FRCirca 1970/1975 France Stunning long dress in crepe silk purple labelled Nina Ricci collection Jeune Femme dating to the 70s. Monastic and futuristic taste fashionable during the 70s thanks to Pierre Cardin or Paco Rabanne. Buttons on the handles of puff sleeves, wide chest...Category
1970s French Aesthetic Evening Dresses
- A French Navy Chiffon Cocktail Dress with White Polka Dots Circa 1975Located in Toulon, FRCirca 1975 France Elegant cocktail or ceremonial dress in navy chiffon printed with white polka dot stencil, signed Anne Valone Paris Circa 1975. Dr...Category
1970s French Cocktail Dresses
- Chic 1970s Vintage Blue and Pink Cotton + Silk Brocade Belted 70s Maxi DressLocated in San Diego, CASuch a chic 1970s maxi dress! Super soft, yet sturdy cotton fabric, with silk brocade detail at bust, and attached silk brocade belt that ties in the back. Psychedelic themed floral ...Category
1970s Maxi Dresses
- New Jay Godfrey Lavender Purple Cold Shoulder Cut - Out Silk Bodycon Mini DressLocated in San Diego, CABrand new JAY GODFREY lilac purple silk and lycra cut-out cold shoulder mini dress! Fitted bodice, with a slightly flared skirt that has a 90s feel. 92.5% ...Category
2010s American Cocktail Dresses
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
How to Spot a Fake YSL Bag
Counterfeiters know that savvy fashionistas cherish YSL bags. Learn how to tell if yours is the real deal. Of course, you don't have to worry about that on 1stDibs, where every seller is highly vetted.
Quiet Luxury May Be Trending, but These Famous Interiors Prove That Quality and Quirk Endure
Because truly timeless design requires personal vision, transcendent taste, real fortitude and top-notch objects, even if the wider world hasn’t caught on yet.