Yves Saint-Laurent

One of the most revered fashion designers of the late 20th century, Yves Saint Laurent initially established himself as the protégé of haute couture giant Christian Dior in the late '50s (just prior to Dior's premature death), and spent the ensuing decades permanently altering the way in which the Western world perceived modern apparel for women. Such period fashion staples as the tuxedo jacket (designed for men but retooled for women), trench coats, peacoats, safari jackets, and even women's workday pants (a suggestion considered scandalous when first made) owed much, if not everything, to Saint Laurent. Unsurprisingly (given that his designs were ever-present on actresses including Catherine Deneuve and Lauren Bacall), Saint Laurent also enjoyed a long and prosperous career not as a costume designer for films, but as a purveyor of onscreen dresses for stars. His credits include work on the films The Pink Panther (1964), Stavisky (1974), Providence (1977), and Exposed (1983), to name only a few. Yves Saint Laurent died in June 2008 at the age of 71.