Famed designer Yves Saint Laurent announced his retirement on Monday from his Marceau salon in Paris’s ultra-chic 16th arrondissement. The 65-year-old icon, plagued by rumours of illness, is leaving his eponymous firm after four decades, ending an era during which he became the king of haute couture.
Yves, who headed the venerable Dior empire aged 21, set up his signature firm with partner Pierre Berge before his 30th birthday and soon created a series of fashion firsts including the trench coat, the Mondrian print dress, the female tuxedo and androgynous trouser suits. In 1993 Pierre brokered a deal which sold the YSL conglomerate to France’s state-owned pharmaceutical giant Elf Sanofi, for which Yves and Pierre each pocketed $72 million.
Gucci acquired rights to YSL’s parent company and the YSL brand in 1999, whereby wunderkind Tom Ford handles the YSL ready-to-wear, allowing Yves the chance to focus on haute couture. However, the marriage was perhaps ill conceived. Yves reportedly found the Gucci group too business minded and may have been upset with its revamp of the house he had created.
The internationally renowned designer is due to present his final works, the Spring-Summer 2002 couture collection, on January 23. The firm is expected to close the haute couture line following his departure.
For more on Yves Saint Laurent, check out HELLO!’s profile on the designer.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
