20th century cultural icon, Yves Saint Laurent, dies of a brain tumor
June 5, 2008
Paris, France (WiredPRNews.com) — A period of mourning and perhaps black couture has come not only for Paris, the fashion capital of the world, but for all fashionistas around the globe.
Yves Saint Laurent, one of the most world renowned fashion designers of the 20th century and a cultural icon of style and luxury passed away on Sunday at the age of 71 in Paris. Saint Laurent was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year, however, his battle both internally and externally dated back many more years that the designer lead on. According to a report by Reuters, the fashion designer and “the world’s greatest couturier” greatly suffered from extreme depression and underwent treatment for alcohol abuse causing him to become increasingly withdrawn later in life.
“The couture creations of the reclusive Saint Laurent won global fine art status and he was widely considered to be one of an elite club of designers including Christian Dior and Coco Chanel who made Paris the fashion capital of the world.” Having dressed such regal elite as Princess Grace of Monaco and countless celebrities, Saint Laurent was the pioneer designer to make designer labels accessible to the general consumer through “innovative ready-to-wear collections.”
At the tender age of 21, Saint Laurent made his mark on the stage and runway with an empire that grew to include not only luxury fashions but perfumes and accessories resulting in a “1989 stock market flotation — the first by a fashion house.” France’s periodical, daily Le Figaro, devoted an entire front page to the late icon and laments of the passing of the designer spread far and wide.
France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy thought Saint Laurent a “creative genius” and stated, “He was convinced that beauty was a luxury that every man and woman needed.” Saint Laurent’s longtime partner, Pierre Berge, had tender words for his companion saying, “Chanel gave women freedom. Yves Saint Laurent gave them power.” Berge also mentioned that his partner was extremely shy and reserved with only a small circle of close friends.
A grand mass and memorial ceremony will be held Thursday in Paris at a traditional chapel of musicians and artists, the church Saint Roch.
Wired Fashion Reporter
