Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) is arguably the greatest fashion designer of this century. World renowned since the age of 21, when he shot to fame as the savior of Christian Dior, he has changed the way that women dress with a series of innovations now regarded as classics. His business empire has become a role model for the fashion & beauty industries. But the pressures of fame & the commercial constraints of fashion took a toll on him. He fell prey to addiction & depression, retreating from the world to live as a recluse. As YSL withdrew, his financial affairs came under scrutiny, culminating in the sale of his empire in 1993 to a state-controlled co. Photos.Rawsthorn, Alice is the author of 'Yves Saint Laurent', published 1996 under ISBN 9780788169229 and ISBN 078816922X.