Saint Laurent holds the status of one of the most prominent fashion houses of this century. With exquisite tailoring and an ode to feminine sexuality dominating the brand’s DNA, Saint Laurent has defined the way that we have seen and known luxury fashion. A quintessential Parisian house, Saint Laurent has always functioned on the vision that blurs the lines of gender norms to empower the woman of the modern world.
Founded in 1961 by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, Saint Laurent quickly became the desired luxury label of most French women. An Algerian designer, Yves Saint Laurent was lauded as the true innovator of his time. Having headed other major fashion houses, he launched his eponymous label to erase the boundaries and draw parallels between menswear and womenswear clothing. He was designing sultry but androgynous clothing at a time when women wearing trousers was considered inappropriate.
Yves Saint Laurent soon became the name synonymous with the reinvention of women’s fashion. The house was responsible for the inception of the Le Smoking edit. It was a tuxedo style for the modern woman who aspired to be free from the constraints of the era. Yves Saint Laurent often drew inspiration from art which led to the creation of the iconic Mondrian dress. It was under Yves Saint Laurent's regime that prêt-à-porter became a feat of luxury that all the fashion houses started designing for
In 2012, when Hedi Slimane was in tenure as the Creative Director, Yves Saint Laurent dropped the ‘Yves’ from it’s moniker. The new Saint Laurent introduced an edgier vision of the heritage fashion house that was deeply rooted in youth culture. The collections thereafter were defined by bourgeoise edits that featured a new, more sleek aesthetic. Saint Laurent also for the first time ever launched menswear collections. Belgian designer Anthony Vaccarello is the current Creative Director and under his leadership, Saint Laurent is churning out collections featuring rock chic edits.
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Saint Laurent Bags
This one is unmistakably a fashion house that can be considered timeless, and Saint Laurent’s bags are definitely a staple for any fashion aficionado’s closet. Known for it’s effortless modern elegance, this brand has a must-have bag for every occasion. Saint Laurent creates bags with some of the most enduring forms and shapes. They often merge heritage conceptions with modern aesthetics. Styles like the Sac de Jour, the Loulou, the Kate bag and the shopping tote are some classic Saint Laurent bags that are designed for longevity. These and many more bags are investment pieces that are cut from the finest fabrications and crafted with utmost care. With every new collection, the classic Saint Laurent bags are reiterated into new silhouettes and sophisticated elements to ensure these styles stay current to the zeitgeist.
The Saint Laurent Loulou is for the minimalist luxury lover. It is historically designed after a camera bag and features a soft but boxy structure. Look no further if a timeless everyday bag is what you are finding. Out of all of Saint Laurent’s bags, The Kate is so far the most recognizable. It has always been the go-to accompaniment with evening looks. It is a compact chained wallet with the Yves Saint Laurent monogram that swishes in to a tassel. The Sac de Jour is a cult celebrity favorite that is testament to Saint Laurent's exquisite aesthetic. With multiple compartments to hold all your belongings, the Sac de Jour will make for the perfect work bag.
Saint Laurent Jackets
Saint Laurent’s Le Smoking jacket is an iconic addition to the fashion industry. It’s inception also defined the inception of a shift in the definition of women’s fashion. This Saint Laurent Jacket was a sensation that was functional with a sense of sultry. It brewed quite the controversy back in the day, but now has become a symbol of empowerment. It features classic tuxedo design with well-defined shoulders and a tailored fit. Saint Laurent’s Le Smoking jacket is a relevant piece of clothing to this very day. Reimagined by Anthony Vaccarello, the Le Smoking jacket has been seen in recent collections in various chic edits. Similarly, the Safari jacket cut from gabardine, was a men’s jacket that was later democratized by Saint Laurent. As a utilitarian approach, Saint Laurent challenged traditional gender norms and designed the Safari jacket to be fit for a feminine silhouette.
Currently, with the youthful shift that the brand has made, there are more casual styles infused within collections. Having always ascribed to impeccable tailoring, Saint Laurent’s jackets tap in to the feminine for with an androgynous approach. They are what can be defined as ‘power dressing’ at it’s finest. They are definitely fashion investments that can be considered wardrobe essentials.
