How Yves Saint Laurent Changed Fashion
He paved the way for the birth of androgynous fashion.
In many ways, Yves Saint Laurent was a man ahead of his times. In an era when it was unthinkable for women to wear men’s suits, he introduced the Le Smoking suit. Since it was launched in 1966, the androgynous tuxedo suit has since reached iconic status, becoming the antithesis of the Little Black Dress and embraced by women—including celebrities like Catherine Deneuve, Liza Minnelli and Lauren Bacall—who are unafraid to make a rebellious statement: “If men can wear this, so can I!” Like most designs that push the boundary, Yves Saint Laurent’s Le Smoking suit was initially met with criticism. In fact, a few upscale restaurants and hotels with strict dress codes were said to have turned down female guests who showed up wearing the designer’s then avant-garde suit. One famous story was that New York socialite Nan Kempner was turned away from Le Cote Basque for wearing the tuxedo suit. In true defiant form, Kempner removed her trousers and walked back into the restaurant wearing the androgynous jacket as a mini dress. But perhaps none could match the rebellious spirit of Bianca Jagger, who famously wore a white Yves Saint Laurent tuxedo when she married Mick Jagger in 1971.
When bold red is in order, step into a pair of red Yves Saint Laurent pumpswith feminine scallop design and bow and stitching details.
He infused art into his designs.
While art and fashion are first-cousins and it’s a natural process for one to be inspired by the other, the Algerian-born designer fully embraced art inspirations in his collections, as evident by his Mondrian dress. The classic 60s shift has seen a reinvention when Yves Saint Laurent used it as a canvas and added bold block prints to it, paying homage to modern constructivism and to his favorite Dutch artist, Pierre Mondrian. The signature Mondrian dress was part of Yves Saint Laurent’s 1965 Fall Women’s collection and was featured on the September 1965 cover of French Vogue. Today, the Mondrian dress is permanently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Add unmistakable sophistication to your work uniform with this Saint Laurent Bordeaux Croc-Embossed Leather Nano Sac de Jour bag.
He boldly freed women’s breasts.
In keeping with the new wave of feminism in the 60s, Yves Saint Laurent introduced tops constructed using see-through fabric that revealed women’s breasts. It was a risque move, but this collection spoke highly of how the designer put the woman first in his designs. “Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it,” he once said.
Today, one look at YSL’s Instagram account, and it’s undeniable that Yves Saint Laurent’s mantra of empowering women to dress freely is still evident in the brand’s modern collections.
He introduced ready-to-wear fashion.
While he is, no doubt, a force to reckon with in haute couture, Yves Saint Laurent changed fashion when he introduced the world to ready-to-wear fashion. After leaving Christian Dior as artistic director, he founded his own brand and launched Yves Saint Rive Gauche in 1966. The ready-to-wear line was accessible and more affordable—clearly directed toward the younger market.
Simplicity never looked so high fashion with this Saint Laurent tote in neutral beige.
He championed diversity in fashion.
Perhaps one of Yves Saint Laurent’s greatest contributions in haute couture is his commitment to bring diversity in fashion. In fact, Saint Laurent was among the early adopters of diversity, embracing black models on the runway, particularly Iman, Katoucha Niane and Dalma Callado who were among his early muses. In a past interview, Naomi Campbell credited him for helping her land her first French Vogue cover.
Nothing says polished femininity more than a classic pair of YSL stiletto pumps.
Before his passing in 2008, Yves Saint Laurent became the first living designer honored by the Metropolitan Museum of Art with a solo exhibition in 1983. Without a doubt, Yves Saint Laurent has forever changed fashion. “Fashions fade, style is eternal,” he once said. Which Yves Saint Laurent iconic fashion moment do you love the most? Let's chat, shall we?
Let customers speak for us
I have to commend you CoutureUSA! Because you only accept the best of pre-love designer items I get the best of pre-love designer items. I have had so many recent halls from you. That are just top-notch excellent condition. You have a customer for life.
Having lost my vintage John Hardy sterling silver Pali Budda Belly earrings, I was so happy to be able to purchase their replacement with Couture USA. They arrived in excellent condition, better than described.
Every visit is an exceptional experience. The team is intelligent, intuitive, incredibly knowledgeable, and treats every customer with the same level of care whether you're purchasing a Birkin or a wallet. They take the time to truly get to know your style, understand what you love, and even remember the pieces you're working toward adding to your collection, all in a relaxed, low-pressure environment.
The store is over an hour from me, and it's absolutely worth the drive. Their recent expansion and redesign have made the shopping experience even better, with beautiful lighting, more inventory, and a thoughtfully organized layout that evolves with the seasons and current trends.
I also love their FB, Instagram and TikTok content. They share educational snippets about leathers, styles, sizes, and luxury brands that help collectors learn while they shop. It's also clear that every bag is carefully hand-selected before joining their inventory, and their pricing is incredibly competitive.
Most importantly, the team is friendly, professional, welcoming, and completely nonjudgmental. Whether you're a seasoned collector or just starting your luxury journey, they make you feel valued and appreciated. I can't recommend them highly enough. I admire that they are also involved in many local causes and care just as much about their surrounding community. Thank you Couture!!!
Best place to shop on the city of Tampa
I love shopping at couture I find some great bags. I check their site daily. So I don't miss out on what I'm looking for.
I was honestly a little nervous purchasing a pre-loved luxury bag online, but CoutureUSA made the entire experience feel easy and trustworthy. The photos and description were accurate, communication was great, and my bag arrived quickly and packaged really well.
What I appreciated most was that the item looked exactly like I expected when it arrived. There were no surprises, which can definitely be stressful when shopping pre-loved. Overall, the process felt smooth, professional, and genuine. I would definitely shop with them again.
Best places to shop always have great finds with great prices and the experience with everyone in the store like shopping with girlfriends best ever❤️❤️
The staff are very friendly and they have lots of great collection!
Yet another AMAZING find from Couture! I love this store and the staff! This is definitely worth the trip.
I just purchased three items from CoutureUSA that I never even thought I wanted, and fell in love! My first luxury purchase years ago was from CoutureUSA. Not only are their products in excellent condition, their customer service is excellent. I never worry if items are authentic cause they guarantee authenticity.
Love my new LV bucket bag!
My experience with Contour USA was exceptional from start to finish. My David Yurman 10mm Blue Topaz renaissance bracelet arrived in pristine condition and was exactly as described. The entire process felt seamless, professional, and truly reflective of a high-end buying experience. I would absolutely purchase from them again.
The team there was very friendly and fantastic able to answer any questions that I had products and bags are fantastic quality
It is impossible to visit couture USA without buying something special! Love this store and love the ladies that work here!
Described as "excellent" condition, in my opinion it's "like new"! Fast and secure shipping!
Couture VIP
Sign up now for exclusive pre-sale alert before anyone else!
+30 OFF your first purchase of $300 or more
