Yves Saint Laurent Dies

Yves Saint Laurent died today in Paris at the age of 71.His close friend, Pierre Berge, confirmed his passing and would only say he died this evening after a long illness. He did not give any other details.The reclusive French maestro, who had retired from haute couture in 2002 after four decades at the top of his trade, had been ill for some time.

During his farewell appearance seven years ago, Saint Laurent had told reporters he had “always given the highest importance of all to respect for this craft, which is not exactly an art, but which needs an artist to exist.”Yves Henri Donat Mathieu Saint Laurent was born in the coastal town of Oran, Algeria, on August 1, 1936, at a time when the North African country was still considered part of France.

A shy, lonely, child, he became fascinated by clothes, and already had a solid portfolio of sketches when he first arrived in Paris in 1953, aged 17.Vogue editor Michel de Brunoff, who was to become a key supporter, was quickly won over, and published them.The following year Saint Laurent won three of the four categories in a design competition in Paris — the fourth went to his contemporary Karl Lagerfeld, now at Chanel.