CHLOE Magazine Summer 2015 Volume 5 Issue 4 | Page 23

Yves Saint LAURENT LIVING LIKE A ROCK STAR FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO THE TOP OF THE FASHION WORLD A MAN WHO FOUGHT THROUGH HIS DEMONS TO LEAVE A LEGACY THAT REMAINS EPIC BY ALL STANDARDS In 1953, he won a fashion design contest organized by the International Wool Secretariat and Christian Dior was so impressed by his winning designs that he hired young Saint Laurent on the spot. After Dior’s sudden death, Saint Laurent was appointed Head Designer of the House of Dior at the young age of 21. Yves Saint Laurent was the first French designer to create prêtà-porter line, Rive Gauche, to democratize fashion and make it easily available to more people. Saint Laurent was the first designer to use ethnic models in his runway shows. (above) YSL fashion show ,1969 Two of Saint Laurent’s greatest contributions to women’s wear are the “trapeze dress” and “Le Smoking”. The trapeze dress was a part of Saint Laurent’s first collection as head designer of Dior. The dress debuted in the 1958 Dior Spring Collection and sprung him immediately to international f