Yves Saint Laurent : 1936 - 2008

Yves Saint Laurent, the most influential designer in French couture in the last 50 years, died Sunday evening in Paris at the age of 71. The designer fell ill and entered a Paris hospital last week, reportedly slipping into a coma Wednesday evening.

Born Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent, in Oran, Algeria, on Aug. 1, 1936, the fashion designer is known for his sleek haute couture as well as his ready to wear styles, both of which embodied the best of French sophistication.

Saint Laurent first rose to prominence at the age of 22 when he succeed Christian Dior on the latter's sudden death in 1957. Salvaging the designer's collection, he is credited with continuing the house's legacy as well as saving it from financial disaster.

Saint Laurent decided to retire from the fashion world and showed his last collection in January 2002. He has spent the past years involved with Foundation work.



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