Saint Laurent or Yves Saint Laurent

April 28, 2025

Branding is essentially the most essential ingredient within the fast-paced luxurious style world, presumably extra necessary than the product itself. There are lots of model names within the excessive style realm which have energy, construct connections, and lengthy histories and legacies; nonetheless, there are only some names that connote the affect of Yves Saint Laurent. YSL solid an authentic, female, and assured fashion of dressing, notably with clothes items such because the tuxedo jacket (Le Smoking); its model grew to become synonymous with “Parisian stylish” and stylish risk-taking. Nonetheless, when you’ve got lately been searching luxurious boutiques or scrolling via your favourite style campaigns, you might have additionally observed one thing curious that the label is referred to both as, merely “Saint Laurent” (with out the “Yves”). 

This actual change in branding has created some uncertainty, confusion, and agitation amongst loyal style fans across the globe. The questions that come into the thoughts of style connoisseurs relating to the diploma of separation are like “Is Saint Laurent the identical as Yves Saint Laurent?” or  “Has the couture home completely modified, with an entire rebrand this time?” The reality may be discovered throughout the combination of heritage, innovators behind the model, and a daring imaginative and prescient of all issues Saint Laurent going ahead into the long run.

The reply to those questions is sure, the rebrand dropped “Yves” in 2012 underneath Hedi Slimane’s inventive route, markedly altering the aesthetic branding and popularity of the style home. This renaming has generated criticism, whereas not absolutely eradicating the model and couture home’s longstanding popularity. Particularly, whereas the model has undergone some adjustments, YSL nonetheless maintains the entire identical traits of sophistication, edge, and unmistakable French temperament. 

If we undergo a brief historical past of Yves Saint Laurent, we are able to see that it was established in 1961 by two Frenchmen, Yves Saint Laurent and his life associate, Pierre Bergé. The Yves Saint Laurent model rapidly dominated the style world, paving the way in which in excessive style. Yves was recognized for his audaciousness, usually breaking guidelines and altering shapes whereas empowering ladies via style. The primary ladies’s tuxedo jacket (Le Smoking), safari jackets, and sheer blouses had been all uniquely Yves. YSL grew to become synonymous with avant-garde class via YSL’s creative and reckless method. The model ” YSL” mark, designed by graphic artist Cassandre in 1961, grew to become iconic by itself. “YSL” was not an initialism or an acronym; it grew to become a logo of class and elegance innovation.

In 2012, Hedi Slimane grew to become the corporate’s inventive director and set a loud new route for the model. One in all his greatest selections was to alter the identify of the ready-to-wear line from Yves Saint Laurent to easily Saint Laurent. Naturally, this drew plenty of dialogue – some folks named it a reinterpretation of the model for contemporary instances, whereas others felt it was eradicating components of the identify from the legendary designer. Quite than eradicating the previous, Slimane was repeating it. The preliminary ready-to-wear label from 1966 was known as Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, and the choice was a tribute to that line. The high fashion line and the emblem YSL remained for equipment and sweetness.

A few of the Most Iconic Items from Yves Saint Laurent (Pre-2012)

1. Le Smoking Jacket (1966)
   It is a very famend revolutionary tuxedo for ladies that showcases a daring assertion of empowerment and class.
2. Saharienne Safari Jacket (1968)
   Impressed by menswear and colonial apparel, this piece introduced practical but modern outerwear to ladies’s wardrobes.
3. Mondrian Gown (1965)
   A tribute to painter Piet Mondrian, this color-blocked shift gown fused artwork and style in a method that was each avant-garde and iconic.
4. See-By means of Shirt (1968)
   A sheer chiffon shirt that redefined sensuality, sparking conversations round female expression in style.
5. Trapeze Gown (1958) (designed throughout Yves’ time at Dior)
   Although technically predating the YSL model, this silhouette grew to become a signature and influenced his early design route.

Iconic Items from Saint Laurent (Publish-2012)

1. Teddy Jacket
   Hedi Slimane’s varsity-inspired jacket grew to become an immediate cult favourite—mixing rock ‘n’ roll insurrection with luxurious.
2. Wyatt Chelsea Boots
   Smooth, sharp, and endlessly cool, these boots have develop into a menswear staple, reflecting Slimane’s affect on trendy tailoring.
3. Lou Digital camera Bag
   Beneath Anthony Vaccarello, this quilted crossbody with the traditional YSL monogram has develop into a must have luxurious accent.
4. Skinny Denims & Leather-based Jackets
   Saint Laurent redefined on a regular basis necessities with razor-sharp cuts and a punk-meets-parisian aesthetic.
5. One-Shoulder Cutout Clothes
   Vaccarello’s signature: sultry, architectural clothes that embrace glamour with a provocative twist.

Though the style model could label itself as Saint Laurent in its prêt-à-porter collections, the center of the model, Yves Saint Laurent, is on no account diminished; the truth is, the model now capabilities with two heads, a connection between previous and current. Saint Laurent Paris options glossy, trendy silhouettes with a rock-and-roll sensibility, directed at a youthful, extra world buyer. Then again, Yves Saint Laurent persists via high fashion, archival tributes, and the immensely profitable magnificence and perfume strains, which proudly function the entire identify and YSL monogram. This layered branding strategy offers the model extra latitude to proceed to develop which means with out discarding branded significance. It embraces the rebellious class championed by Yves whereas additionally embracing up to date tradition and minimalism. To many style followers, the coexistence of each names conveys a fuller, extra vibrant story of a legacy model by mixing status and a way of journey into the long run.

Conclusion

So, are Saint Laurent and Yves Saint Laurent the identical? In spirit, completely. The DNA, daring design, Parisian class, and cultural affect stay deeply intact. The identify change underneath Hedi Slimane was not an erasure, however a strategic evolution that revived the model for a brand new technology. Whether or not it’s a classic YSL shirt or a glossy Saint Laurent leather-based jacket, the widespread thread is craftsmanship, perspective, and a daring sense of fashion. Finally, the identify on the label could differ, however the style home’s dedication to excellence and innovation hasn’t wavered. Name it Saint Laurent or Yves Saint Laurent—what you’re carrying is a legacy. A bit of style historical past, reimagined for now.