By April MacIntyre Jun 1, 2008, 23:28 GMT
A scion of fashion has passed. French designer Yves Saint Laurent died Sunday at age 71 after a long illness, the details were not released.
South Korean models take to the catwalk during a presentation of the 'Yves Saint Laurent' 2007 F/W fashion show in Seoul, South Korea, on 21 August 2007. EPA/JEON HEON-KYUN
Like designer Coco Chanel earlier in the 20th century, Laurent dominated the latter part of the century's haute couture, and was responsible for decades of trendsetting looks. He also impacted home fashion, fragrance and cosmetic business with his signature.
Laurent was not visible much in later years; he bowed from fashion in 2002 after four decades of incredible success.
Yves Henri Donat Mathieu Saint Laurent was born in Algeria, on August 1, 1936; the country was then a province of France.
Laurent had a portfolio of fashion drawings when he hit Paris in 1953 at age 17. His path crossed Vogue editor Michel de Brunoff - who changed the teen's life - setting Laurent on a path to the exclusive halls of French couture.
A prodigy, Laurent often was pit against design peer Karl Lagerfeld in many competitions during his early career.
It was the established and respected designer Christian Dior who selected Laurent to take the reins of the House of Dior.
Laurent said in a previous interview that "Dior fascinated me. I couldn't speak in front of him. He taught me the basis of my art. Whatever was to happen next, I never forgot the years spent at his side."
The year 1960 saw Laurent return to his native Algeria to fight in a war. He was there briefly, and when he returned to Paris another designer had moved in his Dior slot; Marc Bohan. This event spurred Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé to strike out on their own and create an empire.
The burgeoning Sixties and Seventies allowed Laurent's unique vision to blossom; his designs were revolutionary and his Rive Gauche ready-to-wear line transformed ideas of haute couture for a wider mass audience.
With Bergé's business savvy, Laurent masterfully licensed the YSL name to high-end complimentary business like fragrance, cosmetics and home fashion.
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