YSL RIP

June 1, 2008 4:49 PM

Yves Saint Laurent has died, aged 71.

Yves Saint Laurent, one of the greatest and most influential of all 20th century fashion designers has passed away at his home in Paris after a long illness.

posted by fire&wings (24 comments total)

NYT Obituary
posted by fire&wings at 4:50 PM on June 1, 2008

Fashionably early.
posted by blue_beetle at 4:51 PM on June 1, 2008

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posted by rokusan at 5:04 PM on June 1, 2008

(it's a pantsuit)
posted by rokusan at 5:04 PM on June 1, 2008

.

How sad, the passing of an icon. his clothes were beautiful.
posted by seawallrunner at 5:09 PM on June 1, 2008

What seawallrunner said.

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posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 5:16 PM on June 1, 2008

A fascinating character.

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posted by gomichild at 5:21 PM on June 1, 2008

,
posted by cavalier at 5:30 PM on June 1, 2008

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posted by brain cloud at 5:36 PM on June 1, 2008

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posted by oddman at 5:36 PM on June 1, 2008

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posted by awesomebrad at 5:38 PM on June 1, 2008

I heard he was knocked off.

sorry
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posted by hal9k at 5:57 PM on June 1, 2008 [2 favorites]

From his "Trapeze" collection for Dior, 1958

One of his Mondrian-inspired dresses, 1965

Pantsuit, 1970

"Safari" suit, 1970

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posted by doift at 6:40 PM on June 1, 2008

Pressing news, but he's off the rack now.

sorry

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posted by Smart Dalek at 7:19 PM on June 1, 2008

$
posted by turgid dahlia at 8:12 PM on June 1, 2008

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posted by Blazecock Pileon at 8:37 PM on June 1, 2008

I didn't know he was real. And now he's dead. How sad.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 8:55 PM on June 1, 2008

That Mondrian dress makes me wish I were a woman, doift, or still a drag queen, but rich as all get out</small.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 9:29 PM on June 1, 2008

A YSL exhibit just opened at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. I remember going to the amazing YSL exhibit at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1983.
posted by girlhacker at 12:23 AM on June 2, 2008

I have always believed that fashion was not made only to make women more beautiful, but also to reassure them, give them confidence.

Would that all designers felt the same way.
posted by rodgerd at 1:32 AM on June 2, 2008

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(now extra sad that mom gave away a 1960's YSL suede mondrian-inspired suit. I will never forgive her.)
posted by dabitch at 4:44 AM on June 2, 2008

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71? That's no age to die. Says my Dad, who will turn 70 next month.
posted by ZeroAmbition at 5:57 AM on June 2, 2008

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posted by ruelle at 6:27 AM on June 2, 2008

. . .
YSL's made some significant contributions to the evolution of womenswear, but it's not over, as the name will live on through his successor Pilati, and likely many other talents.
It's funny how the industry actually thrives on moments like these: I have no doubts we will see something mondrian inspired or le smoking items as the hot sellers within the next collection.
His death brings relevance to his accomplishments which will consequently get a replay, straight to the pockets of Gucci Group.
posted by Count at 8:43 PM on June 8, 2008