The most important days of Yves Saint Laurent’s life

The famous French dressmaker Yves Saint Laurent, who died on the Sunday night of June the first of 2008, had a life in which great triumphs rub shoulders with severe depression crisis. Here are some of the most representative events in the trajectory of a man with a talent beyond the ordinary.

Yves Saint Laurent career

1936: August 1, Yves Mathieu Saint-Laurent is born in Oran (Algeria), where he runs his youth until he gets the high school diploma.

1953-54: arrives in Paris, where he shows his designs to Vogue director Michel de Brunhoff. Get classes in the Syndical Chamber for Hi Couture; wins a contest. De Brunhoff presents Yves Saint-Laurent at Christian Dior, who hired him.

1955-1957: Assistant of Christian Dior.

1957: Yves Saint Laurent (the surname loses the slash) is placed at the forefront of the artistic direction of Dior, after the sudden death of a dressmaker, October 24, 1957.

1958: his first collection “Trapecio” which puts an end to years of wasp waist, is a success.

1960: Yves Saint Laurent was called to duty. He was declared unfit to be hospitalized for nervous depression. Meanwhile, was replaced by Marc Bohan.

1961: Creates the house of Yves Saint Laurent couture, teaming up with Pierre Bergé, whom he met in 1958.

1962: January 29, the first parade of the house of Yves Saint Laurent couture in a former private residence.

1964: launch of “Y”, first signed by Saint Laurent perfume.

1966: creation of the first tuxedo for women. First pret-a-porter boutique Saint Laurent Rive Gauche in Paris.

1968: Saharan jacket Version YSL is born.

1969: first boutique for men Rive Gauche in Paris.

1971: Collection of 1971, collection called “40″ is a scandal. YSL poses nude for an advertisement on its scent for men.

1974: the house of hi couture settles in on 5 Avenue Marceau.

1977: launch of the perfume Opium, one of their greatest hits.

1981: Yves Saint Laurent created the uniform of Marguerite Yourcenar for its entry into the French Academy.

1982: anniversary of the 20-year-old house in Lido de Paris. Yves Saint Laurent received the prestigious “Award of the International Council of Fashion Designers of americas” (CFDA).

1983: retrospective dedicated to the creation 25 years of Yves Saint Laurent at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. He followed by other exhibitions, such as those in Russia and Paris in 1986.

1985: YSL received the Oscar for best dressmaker throughout his work at the Opera de Paris. The French president François Mitterrand makes delivery of the insignia of Knight of the Legion of Honour (promoted to grade officer in 1995 and the high official in 2007).

1986: purchase of the Ritz Charles, U.S. cosmetic group that until then owned the Saint Laurent perfumes and cosmetics.

1992: celebrated 30 years of home sewing in the Opera Bastille.

1993: in January, the French industrial group Elf-Sanofi takes control of the firm.

1998: Yves Saint Laurent celebrates his 40 year career. At the Stade de France 300 models parade on the lawn of the football stadium before the World Cup finals to compete for France and Brazil.

1998: Yves Saint Laurent decided exclusively devoted to haute couture. Two young designers took over in the ready-to-wear: Albert Elbaz, for women, and Hedi Slimane for men’s garments.

1999: Italian Gucci (40% of Pinault-Printemps-Redoute) acquires the ready-to-wear and perfumes. The holding company Artemis François Pinault becomes owner of Yves Saint Laurent hi couture.

June 2: Yves Saint Laurent receives an award for his career in New York, awarded by the Council of Fashion Designers of americas (CFDA)

2001: Yves Saint Laurent receives in Palermo (Italy) Rose d’Oro, a prize that rewards the world’s cultural personality. The French president Jacques Chirac conferred the degree of Commander of the Legion of Honor.

2002: The couture house Yves Saint Laurent celebrates its 40 years on January 22.

2004: The Foundation Pierre Berge-Yves Saint Laurent, opens with an exhibition entitled “Yves Saint Laurent speaks with art.”