Since Yves Saint Laurent (or simply "YSL") was launched in 1961 by the eponymous designer, the fashion label has become synonymous with Parisian chic. Today, under the helm of creative director Anthony Vaccarello, the brand offers women's and men's ready-to-wear collections, shoes, bags, luggage, cosmetics, fragrances, and even home decor items.
One of YSL's first innovations was creating prêt-à-porter ("ready-to-wear" in French) fashio - making high style accessible to everyday consumers. This democratization of fashion set Yves Saint Laurent apart from his contemporaries like Christian Dior and Coco Chanel, who focused on couture (custom-made clothing). The brand remains committed to offering fashion that's both exclusive yet attainable today.
Another key pillar of the brand is its rich history of collaborating with artists. For example, Mondrian's geometric paintings inspired the block color palette used in the "Mondrian dress," which debuted in 1965. In fact, Yves himself described fashion design as "painting on white canvas." As recently as January 2023, YSL partnered with artist Jonas Wood, whose vibrant floral patterns graced the runway at their Spring/Summer show during Paris Fashion Week.
While YSL is primarily associated with womenswear, they offer strong lines for both men and kids, too. With shops throughout the US, Europe, Asia, Middle East & Africa, Latin America, Oceania, Canada, there's no shortage of opportunities to explore Yves Saint Laurent products around the globe.