YSL

Famous for his early recruitment as Christian Dior’s right hand man, Yves Saint-Laurent went on to mould a prolific career within the fashion world. In 1953, he submitted three sketches to a contest open to young fashion designers and won third prize. He subsequently met the then editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris, Michel de Brunhoff, who suggested that he began a career in fashion design. After studying at the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, he then began his career at the House of Dior.

Following Dior's sudden death, Yves Saint-Laurent became the Creative Director of the House. His highly successful first collection included the influential trapeze dress. In 1961, Saint-Laurent opened his own fashion house and quickly emerged as one of the world's most spectacular designers. He produced iconic designs such as Le Smoking, the tailored tuxedo suit that is still referenced by emerging designers today. YSL continues to dominate the luxury footwear and accessories markets, with highly desirable designs.