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Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

French

Visionary French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent was the first to launch a ready-to-wear label, YSL Rive Gauche Prêt-à-Porter. The inaugural Rive Gauche boutique — a modern shop in Paris’s bustling, bohemian Left Bank district — offered stylish garments and accessories that were intended to be affordable for a younger generation of fashion enthusiasts. The store featured Mies van der Rohe chairs and played host to actor Catherine Deneuve during its grand opening.

Saint Laurent pioneered “cross-design” in fashion, taking inspiration from street trends to modernize haute couture. He was the first couturier to open boutiques for both men and women. Using traditional menswear fabrics and designs for women, he 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 — Rive Gauche is French for “left bank” — followed soon thereafter by YSL Rive Gauche for men. Ready-to-wear materialized during a period of dynamic transformation and experimentation and came to dominate the Paris fashion scene. 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.

The vintage YSL Rive Gauche clothing for sale on 1stDibs includes evening dresses and gowns, jackets, shoes, handbags and other items.

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Designer: Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Dealer: Marlene Wetherell Vintage Fashion
Yves Saint Laurent Russian Collection Corduroy Coat
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
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Yves Saint Laurent, Rive Gauche, rust tone, corduroy, Russian Collection, Cossack style coat, having a slightly fitted semi dropped waist bodice, and...
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1970s French Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Yves Saint Laurent Patterned Silk Jacquard Blouse
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Yves Saint Laurent, Rive Gauche, rust/orange tone, silk jacquard printed, Lavalière, long sleeve blouse, C. late 70's.
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1970s French Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Jersey Dress
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Yves Saint Laurent, Rive Gauche, black jersey, day dress having ruffled accents at the hem and sleeve edging. Dress is gathered at the waist with a scoop neckline.
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1980s French Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Patterned Silk Day Dress
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in New York, NY
Yves Saint Laurent, Rive Gauche, ivory silk, having a black and red diamond pattern day dress. Dress details, include a U neckline, having black ...
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1970s French Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Moroccan Inspired Hooded Wool Cape 1970's
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in New York, NY
Yves Saint Laurent, Rive Gauche, wool and mohair, Moroccan inspired 1970's cape with an attached hood. This cape is made of 30% mohair and 70% wool. It is a dark grayish color, havi...
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1970s European Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Pastel Tone Liberty Print Ensemble
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in New York, NY
Yves Saint Laurent, Rive Gauche, liberty print, cotton chintz, smock top and single tiered skirt ensemble in a pale nude tone, with small pastel colored...
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1970s French Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Yves Saint Laurent Cocktail Dress with Diamanté Detail
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in New York, NY
Yves Saint Laurent, rive gauche, black, satin back crêpe, shift, having a high v neckline and open seam, sleeve detail, embellished with diamanté buttons.
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1980s French Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Yves Saint Laurent RIve Gauche Cocktail dress
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in New York, NY
Yves Saint Laurent, Rive Gauche, black faille cocktail dress, having satin edging detail and a black satin bow at the waist. Dress has side button closures embellished with round, bl...
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1980s French Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Cropped Denim Jacket
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in New York, NY
Yves Saint Laurent, Rive Gauche, black denim, fitted, long sleeve, jeweled neckline, cropped jacket. C. early 80's. Front button closures.
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1980s French Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Yves Saint Laurent Chinese Collection Belted Wool Jacket
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in New York, NY
Yves Saint Laurent, Rive Gauche, charcoal grey, wool, Chinese collection belted jacket, having a Mandarin collar, black braided trim, horn buttons, and a ribbed suede belt.
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1970s French Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Yves Saint Laurent One Shoulder Cocktail Dress
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in New York, NY
Yves Saint Laurent, Rive Gauche, one shoulder, black matellase, cocktail dress having a subtle, lurex, textured sheen. Dress has a fitted bias cut, bodice, with a slightly dropped ga...
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1970s French Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Wool Crepe Jumpsuit
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in New York, NY
Yves Saint Laurent, Rive Gauche, fine wool, black, long sleeve, jumpsuit, having a V necline and a front zipper closure.
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1980s French Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Yves Saint Laurent Chinese Collection Tunic and Pant Ensemble
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in New York, NY
Yves Saint Laurent, Rive Gauche, navy and yellow, patterned, Chinese collection, tunic and pant ensemble. Tunic has a jewel neckline, with a side butto...
Category

1970s French Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Tropical Print Cotton Bermuda
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in New York, NY
Yves Saint Laurent, Rive Gauche, cotton, tropical print cerulean blue Bermuda, having a fly front, belt loops and side pockets.
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1980s French Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Multi tone Silk Blouse
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in New York, NY
Yves Saint Laurent, Rive Gauche, multi-tone, patterned, silk peasant blouse, having an exaggerated, deep flounced neckline detail and full sleeves that bell at the wrists.
Category

1980s French Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Yves Saint Laurent Satin Oversize Evening Jacket
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in New York, NY
Yves Saint Laurent, Rive Gauche, black, satin, box cut, oversize blazer/evening jacket, having a notched collar, vertical placed side pockets, and diamanté button detail at the cuffs.
Category

1980s French Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Belted Suede Dress
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in New York, NY
Yves Saint Laurent, brown suede, long sleeve, sheath having a turtleneck collar and gathered detail at the neckline that extends down to the waist. There is a self belt that can be w...
Category

1990s French Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

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Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Zodiac Pattern Skirt Late 70's
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Yves Saint Laurent Color Block Bomber Jacket C. !978
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Yves Saint Laurent Fuchsia Belted Coat Dress
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Yves Saint Laurent Abstract Pattern Chiffon Chemise Style Dress
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Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Crushed Velvet Pleated Skirt
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
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Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Tiger Pattern Pant
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Yves Saint Laurent Belted Gendarme Trench
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
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Yves Saint Laurent, navy cotton poplin "Gendarme" belted trench, having a pointed collar, removable, caplet and a double breasted closure. Interior is lined in a tattersall brown and...
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1970s Unknown Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche 40's Inspired Jersey and Gold Lamé Gown
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in New York, NY
Yves Saint Laurent, Rive Gauche, 1940's inspired gown, in a matte jersey and a reptile pattern, gold lame fabric. The gold lame bodice has a deep V with a slightly padded shoulder an...
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1980s French Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Gold Lame Evening Ensemble
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
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Yves Saint Laurent, Rive Gauche, gold lame, 2 piece evening ensemble, having a capped sleeve, deep V wrap top that ties at the waist, and a long bias cut skirt with a side zipper cl...
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1970s French Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche fashion for sale on 1stDibs.

Find an extraordinary range of authentic Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche fashion available on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing our collection of unique vintage and designer fashion to elevate your daily look or to introduce new colors to the dazzling formal wear in your wardrobe, this designer’s body of work includes elements of red, blue, purple and other tones. Most of the items here were designed during the 20th Century, but you can find examples that were created as recently as the 21st Century and Contemporary. Customers who are interested in this designer might also find the work of Thierry Mugler, Givenchy, and Christian Lacroix appealing. On 1stDibs, find haute couture, vintage and designer Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche fashion from top boutiques around the world. Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche fashion prices can differ depending upon time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $117 and tops out at $22,500, while the average work can sell for $987.

Designers Similar to Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche

Questions About Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    In fashion, Rive Gauche refers to the Left Bank area of Paris. The French phrase "Rive Gauche" literally translates to "left river" in English. Normally, Rive Gauche fashion is more trendy and casual compared to the more timeless and elegant Rive Droite or Right Bank. You'll find a selection of designer apparel, handbags and accessories on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Saint Laurent Rive Gauche is a line of ready-to-wear fashion that was released under the ‘Yves Saint Laurent’ name. Saint Laurent himself said he “had had enough of making dresses for jaded billionaires”; so he created the Rive Gauche line of high-quality fashion that was more accessible than the haute couture line. You can find vintage and contemporary Yves Saint Laurent bags, clothing and accessories from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.

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