- Want more images or videos?Request additional images or videos from the seller
Yves Saint Laurent 1970s Waist belt

About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Place of Origin:France
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Austin, TX
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1616496932
Yves 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.
Browse an extraordinary collection of vintage Yves Saint Laurent evening dresses, shirts, handbags and other clothing and accessories today on 1stDibs.
Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
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.
Shipping & Returns
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Austin, TX
- Return Policy
A return for this item may be initiated within 2 days of delivery.
- 1980s Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Embroidered DressBy Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in Austin, TX1980s Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche embroidered cocktail dress. Side pockets. Condition: Excellent Size M / US 6 / FR38 36" bust, 32" waist, 38.5" length, 46" hipsCategory
1980s French Cocktail Dresses
- 1980s Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Taffeta Evening Skirt and Sheer Bow BlouseBy Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in Austin, TX1980s Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Taffeta Evening skirt and sheer bow blouse. Condition: Excellent. Size Small / 36 35" bust, 25" waistCategory
1970s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Vintage Yves Saint Laurent One Shoulder Ruffle Cocktail DressBy Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in Austin, TXYves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche black one shoulder sleeveless cocktail dress with ruffles. Condition: Excellent. Size M/ US 6/ FR38 34" bust, 33" waist, 33" hips, 40" lengthCategory
1980s French Cocktail Dresses
- Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Velvet Skirt, 1980sBy Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in Austin, TXYves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche 1980s velvet skirt. Condition: Very good. Size 44 We accept returns for refund, please see our terms. We offer free ground shipping within the USCategory
1980s French Skirts
- Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Velvet Skirt, 1980s - saleBy Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in Austin, TX1980s Yves Saint Laurent black velvet peasant skirt. Condition: Very good. Size 40/ current us 6 We accept returns for refund, please see our terms. We offer free ground shipping w...Category
1980s French Skirts
- Yves Saint Laurent JumpsuitBy Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Austin, TXYves Saint Laurent black jumpsuit. Zipper down front, elastic waist. Condition: good, some all over wear. Size M (mannequin is a us size 6) We accept returns for refund, please se...Category
1980s French Jumpsuits
$595 Sale Price30% Off
- Jean Paul Gaultier Collector Boxing Corset BeltBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Nice, FRJEAN PAUL GAULTIER collector boxing corset belt. This belt features : - Dark navy blue canvas panels embellished with black patent PVC details. - Black laces on front. - Silver tone...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Belts
- JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Vintage Size75 Belt in Black Leather and Silver Plated MetalBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Paris, FRWide Jean Paul Gaultier belt in black leather with silver chain. Dimensions: shortest length: 72 cm Delivered in a Valois Vintage Paris DustbagCategory
Late 20th Century French Belts
- Vintage YVES SAINT LAURENT Ysl Love Passementarie Woven BeltBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Kingersheim, AlsaceVintage YVES SAINT LAURENT Ysl Love Passementarie Woven Belt Measurements: Buckle Height: 2.83 inches (7.2 cm) Total Length: 33.26 inches (84.5 cm) Features: - 100% Authentic YVES ...Category
20th Century French Belts
- Vintage CHRISTIAN LACROIX Tattoo Effect Long Sleeves Shirt Top SweaterBy Christian LacroixLocated in Kingersheim, AlsaceVintage CHRISTIAN LACROIX Tattoo Effect Long Sleeves Shirt Top Sweater Measurements taken laid flat, please double bust, waist and hips: Shoulder: 12.99 inches (33 cm) Sleeves: 22.4...Category
20th Century French Pullovers
- JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Arrow "Constructivist Russian" Collection Sweater TopBy JPG by Gaultier, Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Kingersheim, AlsaceVintage JEAN PAUL GAULTIER "Constructivist Russian" Collection Arrow Applique Pvc Sweater Top Measurements taken laid flat, please double bust and waist: Shoulder: Raglan sleeves, d...Category
20th Century French Pullovers
- Vintage YVES SAINT LAURENT Enamel Heart Woven BeltBy Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Kingersheim, AlsaceVintage YVES SAINT LAURENT Enamel Heart Woven Belt Measurements: Large Heart: 2 4/8 inches X 2 4/8 inches Small Hearts: 1 4/8 inches X 1 4/8 inches Wearable Length: 28 inches Featu...Category
20th Century French Belts
- Vintage YVES SAINT LAURENT Ysl Bamboo Resin Multi Strand BeltBy Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Kingersheim, AlsaceVintage YVES SAINT LAURENT Ysl Bamboo Resin Multi Strand Belt Measurements: Height: 1.37 inches (3.5 cm) Overall Bamboo Length: 29.13 inches (74 cm) Leather Length Right Side: 34.64...Category
1980s French Belts
- Yves Saint Laurent Metal Chain BeltBy Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Geneva, CHThis weighty 70’s YSL gunmetal-tone belt is crafted from interlocking metallic chain links, some of which feature a delicate motif (see pictures 5 & 6). The end of the belt is embell...Category
1970s French Belts
- Vintage YVES SAINT LAURENT Ysl Shell Textured Metal BeltBy Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Kingersheim, AlsaceVintage YVES SAINT LAURENT Ysl Shell Textured Metal Belt Measurements: Height: 2.16 inches (5.5 cm) Wearable Length: 28.15 inches, 28.74 inches and 29.33 inches (71.5 cm, 73 cm to 7...Category
20th Century French Belts
- Vintage YVES SAINT LAURENT Articulated Mesh BeltBy Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Kingersheim, AlsaceVintage YVES SAINT LAURENT Articulated Mesh Belt Measurements: Height: 6.3 cms Length: 87 cms Features: - 100% Authentic YVES SAINT LAURENT. - Articulated metal belt in gold tone. ...Category
20th Century French Belts
- Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Vintage Wide Red Leather Belt with HeartBy Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Port Saint Lucie, FLThis red leather belt was made by Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, most likely in the late 1970s. It features a gold buckle and an attached red leather heart that can be moved for we...Category
1970s French Belts
Recently Viewed
View MoreRead More

The Stories behind the Most Famous Luxury Fashion Logos
From Chanel to YSL, the logos of some legacy fashion houses spark instant brand recognition and have come to symbolize a kind of luxury that feels at once aspirational and attainable.

14 Iconic Luxury Handbags and the Stories behind Them
When the name of a bag is as well-known as its brand, you know it's a classic.
The 1stDibs Promise
Learn MoreExpertly Vetted Sellers
Confidence at Checkout
Price-Match Guarantee
Exceptional Support
Buyer Protection
Trusted Global Delivery