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Yves Saint Laurent

By SARA TEMPLETON

You may have heard the news already, but one of history's most prolific designers has retired.

Yves Saint Laurent, as just a boy at the age of 18, was chosen to be Christian Dior's assistant. Now, almost fifty years on, the man himself is is retiring. It's a sad occurrence, but one that had to happen. But in spite of this, the show will always go on and you can be assured that his namesake will last many more generations.

Here are a few excerpts from Yves address on the 7th of January, 2002:

"Today I would like to pay tribute to all those who have influenced me, guided my actions, and served as a reference to me.

"First and foremost, I would like to pay tribute to Christian Dior, my master, who was instrumental in revealing to me the secrets and mysteries of haute couture. I do not forget Balenciaga, Schiaparelli, and, of course, Chanel, who taught me so much and who, as we all know, liberated women. It was this that enabled me, years later, to give women supremacy and, in a way, to liberate fashion.

"By opening the world’s first prêt-à-porter boutique from a grand couturier in 1966 and by creating clothes that fell outside the realms of haute couture, I realize that I helped to advance the fashion of my time by allowing women access to a universe that had previously been inaccessible to them."

"In 1962 I had the opportunity to create my own couture house. That was 40 years ago. I would like to thank all those who from the outset had faith in me.

"I would also like to thank the women, be they famous or unknown, who have worn my clothes, remaining so faithful to me, and bringing me so much joy.

"Over these many years, I feel that I have carried out my work with unflinching professionalism. I have made no concessions. I have always placed a respect for this profession above all else. While not exactly an art, it nonetheless requires an artist for it to exist. I do not believe that I have betrayed the adolescent who showed his first sketches to Christian Dior with such unshakeable faith and conviction. That same faith and conviction has never deserted me.

"The next show to which I invite you, on Tuesday 22nd January 2002 at 6.00 pm in the Centre Georges Pompidou, will be largely composed of a retrospective of my work. Many of you already know the models that will be shown. I am naïve enough to believe that they are able to resist the attacks of time and that they still have their place in today’s world.

"Last but not least, I would like to thank all of you who are here and all those who cannot be, for your loyal presence at the many rendezvous that I have given you over the years. Thank you for your support, your understanding and your love.

"I shall not forget you."

- Yves Saint Laurent

At the age of 65, Yves Saint Laurent is retiring and closing his 40 year-old fashion house in the heart of Paris as well. At the press conference, where he spoke the above words, he also talked about his personal battles with solitude, depression, drugs yet none of these were earmarked to have instigated his retirement.

YSL is lauded by many as being the man who single-handedly defined what the modern woman wore and is described by others as a genius. In 1999 he sold the YSL label, ensuring the label will continue in future.