Fashion king Saint Laurent dies

Yves Saint Laurent, considered by many as the greatest fashion designer of the 20th Century, has died in Paris at the age of 71.

Saint Laurent changed the face of the fashion industry when he became chief designer of the House of Dior at 21.

He designed clothes that reflected women's changing role in society: more confident personally, sexually and in the work-place.

He retired from haute couture in 2002 and had been ill for some time.
Saint Laurent died on Sunday evening in the French capital, the Pierre-Berge-Saint Laurent Foundation announced.

Pierre Berge, a long-time friend and associate of the designer, said he had died at his home after along illness. He did not give details.

'I draw on woman'
"I found my style through women," Saint Laurent once said.
"That's where its strength and vitality comes from because I draw on the body of a woman."

He changed forever what women wear, introducing trouser suits, safari jackets and sweaters, BBC arts correspondent Razia Iqbal notes.
Saint Laurent was a great innovator, helping to revitalise haute couture while making ready-to-wear design popular.

Born in the Algerian city of Oran at a time when the North African country was still considered a part of France, he had a precocious talent.
At the age of 18 he won a dress design competition, which brought him to the notice of Christian Dior.

His first collection caused a sensation with its gently flared dresses and jackets that set the mould for 1950s fashion.

Life of ill-health
Within three years, Dior had died and Yves St Laurent had taken his place. He made clothes that were elegant and sexy, reflecting women's more confident role in society.

He took the world by storm with his trouser suits, highly coloured ethnic prints and designs inspired by the art world.
Taunted as a schoolboy because of his homosexuality, Yves St Laurent suffered mental and physical ill health for much of his life and he appeared in public only rarely.

But his influence will last for years to come, our arts correspondent Razia Iqbal says.
France has lost not only its greatest fashion designer but also a cultural icon, she adds.

This is sad new. He was a big name in the fashion world and his name will never fade out!

R.I.P.

R.i.p

Yes, he was one of the real giants of French fashion in the 20th century.

Probably one of the best designers that has ever lived, R.I.P MR YSL.

Agreed! This is very sad news... R.I.P.

People die. He was sick and old. And rich.

Lol Klier

RIP YSL.

He's a pioneer and I will commemorate him with a post on my blog later during the day.

Terrible shame, he bcreated a real impact on the world of fashion and helped make it into what it is today.

R.I.P.