Mombasa denim shoulder bag with horn handle.

In 1957, following the sudden death of Dior, twenty-one-year-old Yves Saint Laurent became the creative director of the maison. His first collection, the famous “Trapeze”, renewed Dior's aesthetic with softer, more modern lines. However, in 1960, after being called to military service, he was replaced and decided to found his own fashion house.

In 1961, together with his partner and associate Pierre Bergé, the maison Yves Saint Laurent was born. The first collection in 1962 marked the beginning of a stylistic revolution destined to change fashion forever. Saint Laurent introduced elements considered revolutionary for the time: the women's pant suit, the Le Smoking tuxedo, the safari jacket, the reinterpreted trench coat, and the first pieces inspired by street style. His fashion celebrates female empowerment, giving women a new sense of power through their wardrobe.

In the 60s and 70s, the designer found inspiration in art and global culture: famous are the collections dedicated to Mondrian, Russia, Morocco, and Africa. In 1966, he opened the Rive Gauche boutique, a symbol of more accessible, youthful, and intellectual fashion.

After an extraordinary career, marked also by difficult moments, Yves Saint Laurent retired in 2002. He passed away in 2008, leaving behind an immense legacy.