In 1955, Dior crossed paths with Yves Saint Laurent and recognised the potential lurking inside the bespectacled youth.
In 1955, Dior crossed paths with Yves Saint Laurent and recognised the potential lurking inside the bespectacled youth. Saint Laurent immediately showed his talent under his mentor’s guidance. An effortless style flowed from the artistic strokes of Saint Laurent’s sketches, which in turn were realised by the ateliers into couture outfits that were sophisticated and always with graceful lines. Richard Avedon’s famous picture of model Dovima posing with two elephants not only epitomised the elegance of that era, but also captured the enduring appeal of Saint Laurent’s aesthetic. Regarded by Dior himself as his only worthy successor, it came as no surprise that, at age 21, Saint Laurent found himself at the helm of France’s most esteemed House after the founder’s unexpected passing.
