Yves Saint Laurent Timeline

  • Birth

    He was born in Oran, Algeria
  • Education

    He moves to Paris to study design and wins 3 out the 4 first prizes in the international 'Wool Secretariat' competition.
  • Job

    He was hired as an assistant by Christian Dior
  • Gets Promoted

    Dior dies unexpectedly, therefore Laurent is appointed the House's Chief Designer.
  • 1st Couture Collection

    He brought out the 1st Couture collection for Dior, 'The Trapeze Line' was a big hit and becomes very popular.
  • Joined the Army

    He was requested to join the army ( which is those times you could not deny the request unless there were serious medical reasons) but he had a nervous breakdown and was exempted 2 months later.
  • Designs Costumes

    He designs costumes for a Roland Petit Ballet and a Zizi Jeanmaire Revue.
  • Own Label

    He held his 1st own label Couture show, but he got mixed reviews about it.
  • Perfume Launch

    He launched his 1st perfume called 'Y'
  • Couture Show

    His 'Mondrian' dress took Paris by storm in the Couture Show. He also designed a costume for Catherine Deneuve, the costume was for Luis Bunuel's film, 'Belle de Jour'
  • Spring Couture Show

    His Spring Couture Show features the 1st tuxedo for women, which was a hit.
  • Spring and Autmn Collection

    The 'Safari Look' and his first see-through dress was a big hit at the Spring collection. He also dedicated his Autumn range to the student protestors of May 1968
  • Men's Range

    He launches Rive Gauche men's range and a Rive Gauche boutique opens up in London.
  • 1st Men's Fragrance

    He poses naked for an advertisement for the 1st YSL men's fragrance
  • Return To Couture

    After a while of doing only ready- to- wear, he returns to Couture.
  • Premises Move

    He moves premises to Avenue Marceau in Paris.
  • Perfume launch

    He launched another perfume, 'Opium'
  • 20th Anniversary

    Celebrates his 20th anniversary gala at the Paris Lido.
  • Perfume Launch

    He launched another perfume, 'Paris'. He also becomes the 1st designer to have a retrospective dedicated to his work in his own lifetime
  • Awarded

    He was awarded the French Legion d'Honneur
  • Admitted To Hospital

    He breaks down at his home in Marrakesh and is taken to hospital. He then isn't able to attend his ready- to- wear show due to nervous exhaustion
  • Interview

    He talks about his drug problem and homosexuality for the first time ever in an interview.
  • YSL is sold

    YSL is sold to Sanofi for $650 million, January couture show is dedicated to Rudolf Nureyev. who died due to AIDs. This is because Laurent was diagnosed with AIDs in 1989, so he wanted to spread the word on it. He also produced another perfume, 'Champagne'
  • Sues Ralph Lauren

    He sues Ralph Lauren for copying his tuxedo dress design
  • Gucci Take Over Sanofi

    Alber Elbaz makes his debut as designer for the ready- to- wear label in the Spring Collection. Gucci complete the takeover of Sanofi and appoints their own creative director, Tom Ford.
  • YSL Museum Opens

    Ford replaces Berge as head of collections and named design and communications head of YSL Couture and perfumes. A YSL museum opens up in Paris.
  • 40th Anniversary

    In January he celebrates his 40th anniversary of his couture house and he also announces his retirement
  • Dies

    Yves Saint Laurent dies in Paris at the age of 71.