Few things gave Yves Saint Laurent greater pleasure than to see a woman looking stunning in one of his designs. "The most beautiful clothes that can dress a woman are the arms of the man she loves," he once said. "But for those who haven't had the fortune of finding this happiness, I am there."
If Saint Laurent were alive today, he would have celebrated his 78th birthday, following a time of great transition at the house he founded in 1962, where today, Hedi Slimane continues to honor his memory. Even changing the name of the house to Saint Laurent Paris has been billed as a way to "return to the fundamentals of YSL."
Yves Saint Laurent wanted to help women look and feel their best, and one of his most memorable mottos was, "The main thing is to last!" He's certainly remained relevant, as two biopics, Yves Saint Laurent and Saint Laurent, were released just this year about the designer. So, in honor of his Aug. 1 birthday, we look back at Yves Saint Laurent's lifelong mission, here in the gallery.