Yves Saint Laurent Runway Floral-Print Silk-Chiffon Shirt Blouse, SS1974
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: FR 34 (US 2) but runs a bit big (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Geneva, CH
- Reference Number:
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Geneva, Switzerland
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Chanel By Karl Lagerfeld Runway Padded Quilted Cotton Tank Top, SS2000By Karl Lagerfeld, ChanelLocated in Geneva, CHModeled by Devon Aoki at the Spring-Summer 2000 Chanel runway show in yellow color (see video + pictures 4 & 5), this tank top is designed with quilts for a soft, lightly padded feel. Made from light beige cotton, it has a cropped silhouette, lightly close fit. A branded "Chanel Paris" silver metal flat washer is sewn on the front, bottom left. Tagged a French size 38 (US 6 / UK 10 / IT 42), the top is unlined and runs a little bit small to size. Style it with relaxed pants or an elegant stylish skirt like on the Chanel runway show. Pictures 18, 19 & 20 show top model Bella Hadid wearing a similar, tough slightly different tank top at the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix...Category
Early 2000s French Crop Tops
- Gianni Versace Couture Orchids & Medusa Head Print Halterneck Top, SS2000By Donatella Versace, Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in Geneva, CHEndlessly versatile, this rare SS2000 Gianni Versace Couture asymmetric top is to become your go-to for dinners and parties. Cut from smooth silk jersey, it is gathered along one sid...Category
Early 2000s Italian Halter Tops
- Valentino Silk TopBy ValentinoLocated in Geneva, CHElegant Valentino ivory and dark blue sleeveless top. Zip closure on the left side. Fits approx. : US 2-6 / FR 36-38 Measurements (taken flat) : Width (armpit to armpit) appro...Category
1980s Italian Nautical Shirts
- Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture Blouse, Circa 1993By Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Geneva, CHBased on the 1993 YSL Spring-Summer haute couture collection, this bright floral printed blouse is a genuine ode to the Spring. Cut in organdy silk, this piece features a removable j...Category
1990s French Blouses and Tops
- Yves Saint Laurent Metallic Polka Dots Evening BlouseBy Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in Geneva, CHThis 70's ruffled boho blouse is constructed of lightweight black silk chiffon woven with gold metallic "fil coupé" polka dots. Cut for a flowing fit, it has a sexy sheer finish. Two...Category
1970s French Blouses and Tops
- Gucci By Tom Ford Squares GG Logo Silk-Jacquard Shirt, Spring-Summer 1998By Tom Ford, GucciLocated in Geneva, CHChic and timeless, this black shirt from the iconic 1998 Spring-Summer Gucci by Tom Ford collection will prove to be a staple in any wardrobe. Jacquard-woven with lustrous squares GG...Category
1990s Italian Chemises
- JEAN PAUL GAULTIER SS 2001 co-ord mesh shirt and trousers Bacteria printBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Genève, CHCo-ord set with iconic Bacteria print from Gaultier SS 2001, fantastic condition. Made in Italy. Set is Top is in size XL, made of extremely flexible polyamide mesh and can fit from...Category
Early 2000s Italian Trouser Pant Suits
- Prada Blue Cotton Contrast Embroidered Long Sleeve Button Front Shirt SBy PradaLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2Give your off-duty looks a modern twist with this chic Prada shirt. Cut from a blue cotton fabric, this shirt comes with a button-front and detailed with contrast embroidery detailin...Category
2010s Italian Shirts
- Giorgio Armani Pale Blue Striped Cotton Button Front Shirt XXLBy Giorgio ArmaniLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2Express your unique style with this shirt from Giorgio Armani. It is made from breathable cotton and features long sleeves and a striped pattern all over. A pair of well-tailored pan...Category
2010s French Shirts
- Etro Blue Striped Cotton Button Front Shirt MBy EtroLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2In a trousseau of basics, this Etro shirt is a breath of fresh air with its dashing contemporary design. This lavish creation features a striped design and a smart fit. Mix and match...Category
2010s Italian Shirts
- Chanel Blue Silk Velcro Trimmed Button Front Blouse SBy ChanelLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2If you wish to build a sustainable closet with pieces that are minimal, versatile, and timeless, this Chanel blouse should be your choice. With a simple design, precise tailoring, an...Category
2010s French Blouses and Tops
- Chanel Blue Silk Velcro Trimmed Button Front Blouse SBy ChanelLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2If you wish to build a sustainable closet with pieces that are minimal, versatile, and timeless, this Chanel blouse should be your choice. With a simple design, precise tailoring, an...Category
2010s French Blouses and Tops
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.