Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Maroon Velvet Jacket and Velvet Skirt, 1980s
View Similar Items
Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Maroon Velvet Jacket and Velvet Skirt, 1980s
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 42 (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Austin, TX
- Reference Number:Seller: cl_71781stDibs: LU1613818133
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.
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.
- Alaia High Waisted Skirt and Crop TopBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Austin, TXAlaia High Waisted Skirt and Crop Top 100% cotton Condition: Very good, some all over wear 26" bust, 23" waist, 30" hips, 25.5" length Sz SCategory
1980s French Skirt Suits
- 1992 Gianni Versace Denim Leopard Vest and JeansBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Austin, TX1992 Gianni Versace leopard print vest and jeans. Medusa buttons. Zip up closure on vest. Cotton fabric. Condition excellent. Size XS, IT38, US 2 ...Category
1990s Italian Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
$2,520 Sale Price30% Off - Yohji YamamotoBy Yohji YamamotoLocated in Austin, TX1990s Yohji Yamamoto black blazer with tails with black chiffon wrap skirt. Made in Japan Condition: Excellent labeled size 2 or Medium ( mannequin is a US size 6 )Category
1990s Japanese Skirt Suits
$1,650 - 1990s Romeo Gigli Evening Pajama SetBy Romeo GigliLocated in Austin, TX1990s ROMEO GIGLI evening pajama set Crop top and shorts 100% cotton condition: Excellent Size: S | US4, IT40Category
1990s Italian Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Todd Oldham for Congovid Floral Embroidered SuitBy Todd OldhamLocated in Austin, TXTodd Oldham for Congovid embroidered suit with oversized jacket. Two large pockets on front. Jacket size M, pants size L. Cotton, rayon blend. Cond...Category
1980s American Trouser Pant Suits
- Moschino 1990s Crop top and Skirt SetBy Moschino, Moschino JeansLocated in Austin, TX1990s Moschino silk striped cropped tie top and wrap skirt. Condition: Excellent Size 42/ US 8 / M 30" waist, 33" bust, 34" hipsCategory
Early 1900s Italian Skirt Suits
- Valentino Boutique Jacket and Dress 80sBy ValentinoLocated in Rubiera, REValentino Boutique vintage 80s Damask red silk with black polka dots dress suit 100% silk Size 12US Made in Italy The dress has a bodice with splints inside The jacket has padded sho...Category
1980s Italian Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
$538 Sale Price30% Off - YSL Yves Saint Laurent Red Leather SuitBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Sharon, CTOffering a beautiful YSL Red Leather Suit from circa 1970-80's. Size 42. Waist 28", length of skirt 23.5", length of jacket 26.5"Category
Late 20th Century French Skirt Suits
- 1990’s Vintage Moschino skirt suitBy MoschinoLocated in LAGNY-SUR-MARNE, FR1990´s Vintage 2 piece chromatic suit by Moschino cheap &chic, detailed with funny emojis buttons. This skirt suit was seen on Fran fine on the hit sitcom the nanny in season 4. It i...Category
1990s Italian Skirt Suits
- Gianni Versace S/S 1991 Orange silk paisley print blazer and skirt setBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Milano, IT- Designed by Gianni Versace - Sold by Skof.Archive - Gianni Versace Couture Runway - Runway Look 51 - Bright orange paisley silk blazer and skirt ensemble - Exaggerated pockets - ...Category
1990s Italian Skirt Suits
$1,566 Sale Price25% Off - Thierry Mugler red pant suit with silver metal rings, c. 1990sBy Thierry MuglerLocated in London, GBThierry Mugler red pant suit with decorative silver metal rings. c. 1990sCategory
1990s French Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Vivienne Westwood red and black equestrian style pant suit, fw 1994By Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GBVivienne Westwood equestrian style pant suit comprising: red wool jacket with accentuated waist, shoulder pads, large double lapel and gold orb button fastenings, high ride black vel...Category
1990s British Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
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.