Saint Laurent
French fashion 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, he 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. Under creative director Hedi Slimane, the house’s ready-to-wear collection was rebranded as Saint Laurent in 2012.
Browse an extraordinary collection of vintage Saint Laurent evening dresses, shirts, handbags and other clothing and accessories today on 1stDibs.
2010s Italian Saint Laurent
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21st Century and Contemporary Saint Laurent
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Saint Laurent fashion for sale on 1stDibs.
Designers Similar to Saint Laurent
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Breaking in Saint Laurent sneakers depends on how you’ll be wearing them. If you’re wearing them often, they’re likely to break in quickly — but this can vary from person to person. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Saint Laurent shoes from some of the world’s top boutiques.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022One of the biggest tell-tale signs to authenticate a Saint Laurent Teddy jacket is to check the inner tag. Any signs of crooked text or strange fonts are a dead giveaway that you’re looking at a fake. Fakes will often have a separate tag showing the size, which is never present on a genuine article. The iconic oversized arms should be longer than the bottom of the jacket. If they’re the same length as the bottom, then it’s a fake. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of expertly-vetted Saint Laurent clothing and accessories from some of the world’s top sellers.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The fashion house Yves Saint Laurent was founded in 1962 by Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé in Paris, France. Their mission was to make prêt-à-porter, or ready-to-wear fashion, a reputable trend. In 1966, they opened the first YSL Rive Gauche women’s boutique in Paris, followed soon after by YSL Rive Gauche for men. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of iconic vintage and contemporary Saint Laurent clothing and accessories.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022There are several ways to authenticate a Saint Laurent bag. Firstly, look for the serial number, which is sewn into the lining on a piece of leather matching the bag color. Also, the words ‘Made in Italy’ will be imprinted directly under the numbers. Shop a collection of expertly vetted Saint Laurent bags from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Saint Laurent is made with the utmost quality and high-end materials. The Sac De Jour is one of Saint Laurent’s most popular handbag styles. An authentic Sac De Jour will be made of high-end leather, have near perfect stitching and include embossed hardware. Browse a large collection of authentic Saint Laurent handbags from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022An authentic Yves Saint Laurent scarf should look hand-rolled and hand-stitched. The material should be rolled in towards the logo, and then hand stitched so that the material comes from the back to the front. The pattern should also be completely symmetrical. You’ll find a collection of expertly-vetted Saint Laurent clothing and accessories from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022There are a few tell-tale signs you can look for to determine whether your YSL bag is real or fake. Authentic Saint Laurent bags have a serial number tag. Authentic bags will have the tag sewn into the lining around the edges. The serial number is 12 digits separated by a dot. Newer versions of YSL bags will have a serial number that is three letters, followed by 10 digits and they’re separated by a dot. In addition, make sure to thoroughly examine the bag for flaws and imperfections. A true Yves Saint Laurent bag will be flawless. Shop a collection of authentic Saint Laurent purses from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Saint Laurent has sales usually twice per year around June and December, and you’ll often find various items marked down around this time. For more information, consult the brand’s website. Shop a collection of Saint Laurent bags from vintage to contemporary on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To check your Saint Laurent bag’s serial number, find the tag on the inside of the bag and flip it over. Saint Laurent serial numbers have 12 digits separated by a dot. Some bags will have “Made in Italy” present on the tag, but the words must be directly under the digits. If there is unequal sizing or spacing between the letters, or there’s no serial number at all, then you’re looking at a fake. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of expertly-vetted Saint Laurent bags from some of the world’s top sellers.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022If your Saint Laurent canvas sneakers become dirty, there are a number of different cleaning products available to deep clean your investment. Never put them in the washer, as this can damage your sneakers beyond repair. The best policy to keep Saint Laurent sneakers clean is to take preventative measures. Use specialized cleaning products and spot clean whenever a scuff or stain appears. Find a collection of vintage and contemporary Saint Laurent sneakers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No, the Yves Saint Laurent Belle de Jour clutch does not have zippers. The clutch closes securely with a snap closure. Shop a collection of vintage and new Yves Saint Laurent bags, clothing and accessories from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
- Does Saint Laurent repair bags?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, Saint Laurent offers repair services for products purchased directly through their brand’s website and boutiques as well as authorized retailers. Always purchase Saint Laurent from a reputable seller to ensure authenticity. Shop a large collection of authentic Saint Laurent from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No. In general, Saint Laurent clothing runs true to size — as do most of their shoes. However, it depends on the style, fabric, and construction of the piece as well as the wearer’s body composition. Shop a large collection of authentic Saint Laurent pieces from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, Saint Laurent sandals tend to run true to size. Consult the brand’s website for sizing guides to ensure a proper fit. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of vintage and contemporary Yves Saint Laurent shoes from some of the world’s top sellers.
- Does Saint Laurent sell wallets?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, Saint Laurent sells wallets. With a variety of styles available, including cardholders, cases and clutches, Saint Laurent is known for producing high-quality leather wallets and handbags. You’ll find a variety of authentic and vintage Saint Laurent wallets on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, in general, Yves Saint Laurent men's shoes run true to size in a wide variety of styles, including sneakers, Chelsea boots, and dress shoes. Shop a collection of authentic Yves Saint Laurent footwear from some of the world's top boutiques on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No. Some, but not all, styles of Saint Laurent sunglasses are polarized. To tell whether a pair is polarized, read the product description, which will provide that and other important information. Shop a large collection of Saint Laurent polarized and unpolarized sunglasses from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Determining the fit depends on the style and model of the Saint Laurent Paris jacket. On Saint Laurent’s website, there is a size chart to help determine the correct size for you. Shop a collection of vintage and new Saint Laurent jackets from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Saint Laurent Lukas boots tend to run true to size. Consult the brand’s website for sizing guides to ensure a proper fit. You’ll find a collection of vintage and contemporary Yves Saint Laurent shoes from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes — in general, depending on the boot style, your own fashion sense and where you’re going in them, Saint Laurent boots are versatile enough to pair with a wide range of outfit styles, from casual to dressy to formal. Shop a large collection of Saint Laurent boots from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.