We’re paying homage to legendary designer Yves Saint Laurent, who died on June 1 of brain cancer. Over the years, Iman, Catherine Deneuve, and Laetitia Casta have all modeled for him. I remember growing up seeing “YSL” everywhere, in the news, magazine ads and my mother’s and grandmother’s closets. It seems as if he’s been with us forever.

Long known for creating “ready-to-wear,” YSL was a force of design throughout his career. At the age of 21, he was called upon to save the struggling house of Dior. It worked and since then YSL has continuted breaking ground both in both design and soceity. YSL was the first designer to use black models on the runway, and according to wikipedia, he popularized fashion trends in the 1960s and 1970s “…such as the beatnik look, safari jackets for men and women, tight pants and tall, thigh-high boots….”

Swimsuit images on this page are from his YSL 2002, 2003 and 2004 ready-to-wear runway shows. Take a moment to enjoy his design influence on us and fashion!

Yves Henri Donat Mathieu Saint Laurent

(August 1, 1936-June 1, 2008)

“The most beautiful clothes that can dress a woman are the arms of the man she loves. But for those who haven’t had the fortune of finding this happiness, I am there.”
-Yves Saint Laurent, 1983