Saint Laurent

The Mondrian dress, Smoking, Saharienne... Just a few words to describe the Saint Laurent story and aesthetic. Spotted on the Parisian fashion scene in November 1954 when he was awarded one of the first prizes in the International Wool Secretariat (predecessor to the Woolmark Prize) alongside a very young Karl Lagerfeld, Yves Matthieu-Saint-Laurent enjoyed a stunning debut at Christian Dior where he initially worked as a stylist. When the designer and founder died in 1957, Yves was chosen as his successor. His first collection, presented in 1958, was a great success. When called up for military service, he was forced to leave the position, not constituting a problem. In 1961, he set up his eponymous label with the help of Pierre Bergé. Presenting a debut collection in 1962, he unveiled a new aesthetic, designed for an elegant working woman. A gifted talent, he quickly became the darling of Parisian fashion. Far from being satisfied with his triumph, he extended his talents further in 1966 by founding Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, the first ready-to-wear label to be led by an established designer. 
Revolutionising women's clothing, Saint Laurent designs include numerous references to art, another one of the designer's great loves. Tributes are made to Van Gogh, Mondrian, and the Russian ballets to name just a few. The designer treated his creations like ornaments, not only enhancing feminine curves, but liberating them at the same time. In January 2002, Yves Saint Laurent announced his retirement. Nevertheless, his successor had already spent two years at his studio. The Texan designer, Tom Ford who had previously breathed new life into Gucci, had been at the helm of Saint Laurent ready-to-wear since 2000. When he left the company in 2004, he was also overseeing Haute Couture. He was succeeded by Stefano Pilati. Under his aegis, Saint Laurent womenswear was rejuvenated with the same understated luxury as it started. In 2012, he stepped aside to make way for Hedi Slimane, a designer who had previously worked at Cassandre in the mid-90s. The return to essentials was to his advantage. He created a new, more rock 'n roll image for the label, quickly attracting a large clientele, keen to don the new silhouette of the hip and stylish Parisian. The brand enjoyed great success for four years. In 2016, he was replaced by Anthony Vaccarello. Graduating from Belgium's La Cambre in 2006, he gained notoriety that same year, receiving the Grand Prix at the Hyères International Fashion Festival and Photography. A prolific designer, he also won the Andam Grand Prize in 2011. Meanwhile, he proved his worth at Fendi, launched his self-titled brand and collaborated with Versace on the Versus collection. 
Always elegant with both classical and rock 'n roll concepts, Saint Laurent accessories are as popular as the label's ready-to-wear clothing. And sunglasses are no exception to the rule. Featuring timeless concepts, these essentials, christened Loulou, Classic and Jerry, never fail to dazzle.