When I heard the Yves Saint Laurent died, I was not surprised, he has been very private for many years and had always battled health problems but I was a bit saddened. He was really the last truly complicated, glamorous, genius designer, and as a writer, whenever one of the greats pass away I feel disappointed that I will never have a chance to meet them or interview them. I felt this even more when Nina Simone died.
But Saint Laurent has left a huge legacy, and even now is beyond his time. He was one of the youngest designers ever to become that powerful, that influential, that quickly. He made ready to wear legitimate. I believe he was one of the first (and sadly) only designers to create a entire collection based around a black model, supermodel and fashion icon Iman. He famously said, "My dream woman is Iman."
He was also the first living designer to be honored by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the list goes on and on.
I can only aspire now to one day find (and be able to afford) a beautiful piece from that original collection inspired by Iman as my way to pay tribute to an artist, designer that will always intrigue me.