The Evolution Of Ysl Cologne: A Fragrance Journey

Yves Saint Laurent, the famed luxury fashion house, is currently owned by Kering, a multinational conglomerate specialising in luxury goods. Kering, previously known as PPR, purchased the majority of shares of YSL in 1999, allowing it to expand its portfolio of luxury brands. Despite the change in ownership, the YSL brand has preserved its original style and sophistication, remaining a key player in the high-fashion industry.

The YSL brand was founded in 1961 by designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé. Laurent's career in fashion began at the age of 17, when he served as an assistant to Christian Dior. With Dior's death four years later, Laurent was named head of the house of Dior at just 21 years of age. Laurent became known for his exquisitely tailored women's suits and is credited with creating the first women's tuxedo. He was the first designer to announce his expansion from couture into ready-to-wear, making chic designs available to the mass market.

The YSL cosmetics line, YSL Beauty, is owned by L'Oréal, the world's largest cosmetics company. L'Oréal also owns several other well-known brands such as Maybelline, Garnier, and Lancôme.

YSL's ownership history

The history of YSL's ownership is as fascinating as the brand's designs. Founded in 1961 by Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé, the brand has undergone several changes in ownership over the years.

In 1962, the eponymous brand was established, and its logos were designed in 1963 by A.M. Cassandre. During the 1960s and 1970s, YSL popularized several trends, including the beatnik look, safari jackets, and thigh-high boots. The brand also debuted the Le Smoking tuxedo suit for women in 1966, challenging traditional gender norms.

In 1978, YSL introduced its cosmetics line, and by the 1980s and early 1990s, the brand had expanded into men's and women's fragrances. However, by 1992, the company was facing financial challenges, with declining profits and a falling share price. This led to a series of ownership changes.

In 1993, YSL was sold to the pharmaceuticals company Sanofi. During this time, Pierre Bergé appointed Hedi Slimane as collections and art director, and he relaunched Rive Gauche Homme. Slimane departed in 1999 to join Dior Homme.

The same year, Kering (then known as PPR) purchased YSL, hiring Tom Ford to design its ready-to-wear collection, while Yves Saint Laurent himself continued to design the haute couture line. This partnership proved successful, with Ford's designs being named Dress of the Year by the Fashion Museum in 2001 and 2004.

However, in 2002, after facing personal issues and criticisms, Saint Laurent closed the couture division of YSL. The following years saw further changes, with Ford's departure in 2004 and Stefano Pilati taking over as creative director. Sadly, Yves Saint Laurent passed away in 2008, and the brand faced more challenges, including store closures in key U.S. markets.

In 2012, Kering brought back Hedi Slimane as creative director, replacing Pilati. Slimane made the controversial decision to rebrand the ready-to-wear line as "Saint Laurent," dropping "Yves" from its name. This led to some backlash, including Parisian boutique Colette selling shirts with the line "Ain't Laurent without Yves."

Despite the controversies, Slimane successfully revived YSL's haute couture line and continued to push the brand forward. In 2016, Slimane left, and Anthony Vaccarello was appointed as the new creative director, a position he still holds today. Vaccarello has navigated challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and expanded the brand's market reach.

Throughout its history, YSL has been known for its innovative and influential designs, leaving an indelible mark on the fashion industry. The brand has continued to evolve while staying true to its roots, with Vaccarello drawing inspiration from Yves Saint Laurent's original designs.

YSL's fashion line

Yves Saint Laurent, also known as YSL, is a French luxury fashion house founded in 1961 by Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé. The brand specialises in haute couture, ready-to-wear, leather accessories, and footwear.

The YSL fashion line has played a significant role in shaping fashion trends over the years. During the 1960s and 1970s, YSL popularised the beatnik look, safari jackets, tight pants, and thigh-high boots. In 1966, the brand debuted Le Smoking, a tuxedo suit for women, challenging traditional gender norms in fashion. YSL also pioneered the concept of ready-to-wear clothing with the launch of its Rive Gauche line, aiming to democratise fashion and make designer clothing more accessible.

In addition to its iconic fashion collections, YSL has expanded into the fragrance market, launching its first women's perfume, "Y," in 1964, followed by its first men's cologne, "Pour Hommes," in 1971. The brand's fragrances have become just as renowned as its fashion lines, with popular offerings such as Opium, Black Opium, and Mon Paris.

The YSL fashion house has undergone various ownership changes over the years. In 1993, it was sold to the pharmaceuticals company Sanofi. Later, in 1999, Kering purchased YSL, and the brand continues to operate under the Kering group, showcasing both ready-to-wear and haute couture collections.

Today, YSL remains a prominent force in the fashion industry, with Anthony Vaccarello serving as the creative director since 2016. The brand continues to evolve while staying true to its roots, blending modern innovations with the timeless elegance associated with the Yves Saint Laurent name.

YSL's cosmetics line

Yves Saint Laurent, or YSL, is a brand that has been around since 1962, when the designer of the same name launched his fashion label. YSL has since expanded its empire to include a cosmetics line, which features a range of lipsticks, foundations, mascaras, and more.

The YSL cosmetics line includes the Rouge Pur Couture Satin Lipstick, which comes in a range of shades, including 'Showstopping Rose'. The Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick Balm is another option, offering a hydrating formula with a hint of colour. For those who want a bolder look, The Slim Matte Longwear Lipstick provides full coverage and a leather matte finish.

The brand also offers a range of foundations, such as the All Hours Foundation, which provides 24-hour full coverage with a lightweight feel. The Touche Éclat All-Over Brightening Pen is perfect for brightening the under-eye area and highlighting the face.

In addition to lip and face products, YSL also has a range of mascaras, including the Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara, which promises high-impact colour and volume.

The YSL cosmetics line provides a range of products to enhance one's natural beauty, with options for both subtle and bold looks. The brand's commitment to quality and innovation has made it a favourite among makeup enthusiasts and professionals alike.

YSL's perfumes

YSL, or Yves Saint Laurent, is a French fashion house founded by Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent. The brand offers a range of luxury fragrances for men and women, including colognes and perfumes.

History of YSL Perfumes:

YSL's first fragrance, Y, was launched in 1964. It was a collaboration with perfumer Jean Amic and was designed as an olfactory expression of the elegance and luxury of YSL's couture fashion. The fragrance was tailored for the beautiful women Yves dressed, with its green chypre juice housed in a bottle reflecting a woman's silhouette.

In 1971, YSL unveiled its Rive Gauche perfume, packaged in a tin can, a bold departure from the classic feminine bottles of the time. That same year, the brand launched its first men's cologne, Pour Hommes, with Yves himself posing nude for the advertising campaign.

Popular YSL Perfumes:

Over the years, YSL has continued to innovate and expand its fragrance offerings. Some of the brand's most popular perfumes include:

• Opium (1977): A sensual and seductive fragrance that sparked controversy with its audacious name and opulent blend of ambrée ambers and vanilla.
• Paris (1983): A floral fragrance paying tribute to the city of Paris, created by perfumer Sophia Grojsman.
• Black Opium (2014): A modern reinvention of the YSL woman, characterised by an overdose of black coffee accord and contrasting white floral heart notes. It won the Best New Fragrance for Women in the UK's Fragrance Foundation Awards.
• Mon Parfum: A feminine and luminous 'white Chypre' inspired by the city of Paris, with notes of white florals, patchouli, and musk.

YSL continues to delight and shock with its fragrances, staying true to the brand's creative and innovative spirit.

YSL's founder

Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent, also known as Yves Saint Laurent or YSL, was a French fashion designer who founded his eponymous fashion label in 1962. He is regarded as one of the foremost fashion designers of the twentieth century.

Saint Laurent was born on 1 August 1936, in Oran, Algeria, to French parents. He grew up in a villa by the Mediterranean with his two younger sisters, Michèle and Brigitte. From a young age, he was interested in fashion, creating intricate paper dolls and designing dresses for his mother and sisters.

His talent was recognised when he won first place in a contest by the International Wool Secretariat at the age of 17. This led to his move to Paris, where he enrolled at the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. There, his designs quickly gained notice, and he was introduced to designer Christian Dior, who hired him as an assistant and later named him his successor.

Saint Laurent's debut collection for Dior, presented in 1958, catapulted him to international stardom. He went on to introduce or contribute to fashion trends such as the beatnik look, pea coats, smock tops, thigh-high boots, the Le Smoking women's tuxedo suit, and safari jackets for men and women. He is often credited with making the wearing of trousers by women more widely acceptable.

In the 1960s, Saint Laurent opened his prêt-à-porter house YSL Rive Gauche, marking a shift in focus from haute couture to ready-to-wear. He was the first French couturier to launch a full prêt-à-porter line, making fashionable styles more accessible and affordable.

Saint Laurent retired in 2002 and passed away in 2008. He is remembered as a pioneer in the fashion industry, blending fashion with artistic expression and accommodating the changes in fashion during his time.

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