Yves Saint Laurent was hired by Christian Dior to design for the House of Dior at just 18 years old. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming Mr. Dior’s right-hand man and helping to design the dresses for each season. After Christian Dior’s sudden death from a heart attack, Yves Saint Laurent was appointed as his successor at the young age of 21. He led design at Dior for three years before being drafted into the army, which had a negative impact on his mental health. He was eventually hospitalized due to his mental state and learned he would be replaced by Marc Bohan at Dior while he was in the hospital. Following this, Yves Saint Laurent went on to found his own brand, debuting his first collection in 1962.
Yves Saint Laurent revolutionized the way women dressed and is credited with introducing the concept of menswear as womenswear, with the Le Smoking tuxedo becoming one of his most iconic designs. His brand initially did not prioritize handbags, but the handbag offering gained significance under the creative direction of Tom Ford and later Stefano Pilati.
The Mombasa bag was released in 2001 and quickly became a coveted item, with many variations selling out almost instantly. The Muse bag, released in 2005, was considered YSL’s first “It” bag and achieved great popularity, particularly among celebrities. Following Stefano Pilati’s departure, Hedi Slimane introduced the Sac de Jour, which became a staple handbag for many. The Kate Bag, named after Kate Moss, became popular for its classic yet modern shape and use of the YSL Cassandre logo. The Loulou bag, introduced by Anthony Vacarello in 2017, remains a street-style favorite, while the Icare Maxi Shopping Bag made a big impact in 2022, following the big bag movement.
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