Yves Saint Laurent, who died in 2008, was a designer who loved giving women choices. In 1966, he debuted the Le Smoking tuxedo jacket, offering a masculine alternative to the popular shifts of the day, including Coco Chanel’s Little Black Dress. Later in his career, the couturier became the first French designer to offer a ready-to-wear collection, giving the high fashion world a democratic and practical touch.
YSL: Prêt-à-Porter, out this month from Abrams, pays tribute to Saint Laurent’s design career. But the interactive sketchbook also nods to the importance he placed on options, allowing readers to mix and match swatches to rework some of Saint Laurent’s pieces. Here’s a look inside the tome.
