Couture King Yves Saint Laurent dies at 71

02 June 2008

French fashion legend Yves Saint Laurent, one of the best-known and most influential fashion designers of the 20th century, died yesterday at his Paris apartment. Saint Laurent, 71, will be buried on 5 June.

The frail and reclusive Saint Laurent, who changed the way 20th century woman dress, died of a brain tumour after a prolonged illness. The news was confirmed by a spokeswoman for the Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent Foundation.

Saint Laurent rode into the fashion scene in 1958 as a boy-wonder to succeed Christian Dior and endured as one of the best-known and most influential couturiers of the second half of the 20th century. He retired from haute couture in 2002 after a four-decade career that started in 1957.

Saint Laurent, who achieved instant fame in 1958 at the age of 21 when he showed his Trapeze collection, his first for Christian Dior after the master's death, remained at the top of his profession as fashion changed from the formal to custom-made haute couture and to casual sportswear.

His influence was at its peak during the 1960s and the '70s.

Saint Laurent, who was largely responsible for changing the way modern women dress, sought inspiration from the streets to the US Army-Navy stores.