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PARIS, France - The inventor of modern-day ready-to-wear, the first designer to use black models on his runway, the first to bring androgyny to high fashion, the successor to Christian Dior, the first to license his name to other businesses, and one of the youngest designers ever to be at the helm of a major Parisian haute couture house, Yves Saint Laurent, died at his home on Sunday evening, June 1, 2008.
Fans of YSL, or simply those who want to learn more, may want to check out the newly-opened (and, I guess, impeccably-timed) YSL retrospective at the Musée des Beaux Arts de Montréal which runs until September 28, 2008 and which is being planned in conjunction with La Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent. Pierre Bergé himself was on-hand for the opening of the highly-acclaimed exhibit last week, and according to a friend on the organising team, he recounted some incredible stories about his life and times with Monsieur Saint Laurent.
Of course, tributes to YSL are pouring in from up on high, from every corner of the fashion world. But, if you would like to pay your own personal tribute, please feel free to do so here and I will ensure that any tributes and comments are sent over to Montréal to be shared somehow as part of the retrospective. It would be a fitting way to honour this legendary designer who was, above all, a man of the people, known for empowering women.
