Adieu Monsieur Saint Laurent

Today the fashion world is saddened by the death of one of the most talented designers of all times, Yves Saint Laurent.

Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint Laurent was born in Oran (Algerie francaise) August 1, 1936.

He moved to Paris in 1954, where he studied drawing at the chambre syndicale de haute couture.

In 1955, Yves Saint Laurent was offered his first job as a model maker by the famous designer,  Christian Dior.

1958 Yves Saint Laurent for Christian Dior

 In 1957,  Yves Saint Laurent was only 21 years old when he took over the design after  Christian Dior passed away. Yves Saint Laurent's first collection "Trapeze" was an instant success, but, unfortunately, young Yves was drafted into the army in 1958, and upon his return, Marc Bohan had taken over.

In the spring of 1962, Yves Saint Laurent created his first collection with help from Pierre Berge, with whom he was romantically involved until 1976.

In the summer of 1966, he reinvented the "Smoking," an ultra-feminine version of a man's tuxedo. From then on, it became a fixture in every YSL runway show. According to Yves Saint Laurent, it became his trademark.

Yves Saint Laurent and French actress Catherine Deneuve wearing the "Smoking."

1966 saw the launch of Yves Saint Laurent's rive gauche, the ready-to-wear collection inspired by Yvonne Nepp .

In 1985, Yves Saint Laurent was rewarded  the most prestigious medal "la legion d'honeur" by French President Francois Mitterand (whose candidacy was supported by YSL and Pierre Berge).

In 1998, Bernard Arnault, who already owned Gucci, purchased the company imposing stern new financial and creative rules as well as bringing along Gucci's designer Tom Ford as creative director for the rive gauche label.

Yves Saint Laurent retired in 2002, and said that in his life he has feared lonliness, addiction, jail and depression.

In 2001, Yves Saint Laurent was once again awarded "la legion d'honneur" by then-French President Jacques Chirac and in 2007 by Nicholas Sarkozi.

Yves Saint Laurent died June 1, 2008 from cancer at age 71. He was a master of the art of colors and loved painting.

One of Yves Saint Laurent's famous quotes was, "There is not one single shade of black, there are many."