1962: Yves Saint Laurent opens his first couture house

Born in Oran (Algeria) in 1936, Yves Henri Donat Matthieu-Saint-Laurent, was very passionate about sewing. At the age of 18, he arrived in Paris to take drawing classes at the union's haute couture chamber.

If some struggle to break through, the talent of the student is such that it only takes three months to make himself known. Christian Dior is interested in his genius and calls him a modelist in his house. He is only 21 years old when the Great Man dies and leaves him to the direction of the house Dior. The young Saint Lawrence put into practice the advice and techniques of his mentor.

In 1962, the genius flies on his own wings and opens his house of sewing with the help of his friend Pierre Bergé. The audacious couturier then knew his first hours of glory with his "trapeze" dress adopted by the All Paris. The name Yves Saint Laurent becomes a brand.

1966: Yves Saint Laurent launches ready-to-wear line

The undisputed master of Haute Couture French democracy fashion by opening his ready-to-wear store Rive Gauche in Paris. Provocateur and libertarian, he launches a collection drawn from the male universe. The pants-tailor finally offers women the opportunity to put pants at work! Then, he diverts the fashion from the hunt and makes the Saharan jacket, a must of his collection. Finally, the smocking for women becomes the emblem of its avant-garde style.

Yves Saint Laurent "throws bombs in the legs of society" says his friend Pierre Bergé, and gives the woman a figure of conqueror and insubordinate.

1967: Catherine Deneuve becomes her muse

It is the story of a thunderbolt between the legendary actress of French cinema and the undisputed master of haute couture. Catherine Deneuve and Yves Saint Laurent. It is on the film of Luis Buñuel, Belle de Jour, that we discover the French star dressed by the famous couturier. The beautiful becomes his muse, his lucky charm. Next the models Verushka, Loulou de la Falaise, Katoucha and later Laetitia Casta ...

1982: YSL is at the top of its art

The YSL house is 20 years old. The master discreet by his attitude, but imposing by his talent explodes: he is awarded the "International Fashion Award of the council fashion designers of America" ​​in 1982. Then in 1983, his name entered the dictionary Larousse. In 1985, François Mitterrand, President of the Republic, awarded him the insignia of "Knight of the Legion of Honor", and in the same year he won the Oscar for the greatest couturier. Finally in 1989, her couture house is the first publicly traded.

2002: The Farewell of the Master

After spending 40 years redefining the silhouette of women, the talented couturier leaves the stage: "I chose today to say goodbye to this job that I loved so much," he said in his speech d farewell surrounded by his muses. At 66, the man who gave "power to the women" (Bergé) left his house in the hands of Tom Ford and then Stefano Pilati in 2004.

At 71 years old, he who said that "the best clothes that can dress a woman are the arms of the man she loves. But for those who have not had the chance to find this happiness, I am there. ", is not anymore. He definitely pulled his reverence, leaving behind him a legendary art.