The icon YSL brand was founded in 1961 by Yves Saint Laurent along with his partner Pierre Berge.  In these beginning years they made safari jackets, thigh-high boots, smoking jackets and the tuxedo suit for women popular.  One of his most famous muses was Catherine Deneuve.

The brand added a cosmetic line in 1978 and a fragrances line in the 1980’s however the cosmetic line was short lived.  By 1992 the cosmetic line was ended but the fragrance line went on to be very successful, even to this day.

In 1993, the Saint Laurent fashion house was sold to the pharmaceuticals company Sanofi. Then in 1999, Gucci bought YSL and Tom Ford was hired to design ready-to-wear, while Saint Laurent would design the couture collection.

In 2002, due to poor health, drug abuse, depression, alcoholism, and much criticism, Saint Laurent closed the couture house.  Saint Laurent was known for saying, “Chanel freed women, and I empowered them.”  

In 2008 Saint Lauren passed away and the designs of YSL, of any time, have become even more valuable.  Some of his dresses have fetched up to  $100,000.00.  It is not uncommon to see his evening wear for sale for $40,000.00 and some handbags in the range of $27,000000.