Fashion Designer. Leaving his home of Oran at the age of 17, he traveled to France to work with designer Christian Dior. At the time of Dior's death in 1957, he was asked to take charge of the business. In 1960, he served in the French Army for a short time. He suffered from great stress and had to leave for psychiatric treatment. After being released from Dior in 1962, he started his own label, YSL. This was made possible by the financial aide of his companion Pierre Bergé. In 1966 and 1970, Rive Gauche boutiques for women and men were opened. Laurent is best known for feminizing the qualities of men's wardrobes for women. In 1971, he posed nude for his men's perfume, "Pour Homme." The very popular "Opium" perfume was a Yves Saint Laurent product. The fashion house was sold for approximately six hundred million dollars in 1993 to the pharmaceutical company Sanofi. In 1999, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Council of Fashion Designers of America.

Fashion Designer. Leaving his home of Oran at the age of 17, he traveled to France to work with designer Christian Dior. At the time of Dior's death in 1957, he was asked to take charge of the business. In 1960, he served in the French Army for a short time. He suffered from great stress and had to leave for psychiatric treatment. After being released from Dior in 1962, he started his own label, YSL. This was made possible by the financial aide of his companion Pierre Bergé. In 1966 and 1970, Rive Gauche boutiques for women and men were opened. Laurent is best known for feminizing the qualities of men's wardrobes for women. In 1971, he posed nude for his men's perfume, "Pour Homme." The very popular "Opium" perfume was a Yves Saint Laurent product. The fashion house was sold for approximately six hundred million dollars in 1993 to the pharmaceutical company Sanofi. In 1999, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Council of Fashion Designers of America.

Bio by: Julie Karen Hancock (Cooper) Jackson