Yves St. Laurent was a French fashion designer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest fashion designers of the 20th century. He was born in 1936 and began his career in 1954 when he became the head designer at the House of Dior. He went on to launch his own fashion house in 1962, which was known for its modern and innovative designs. He was also known for his use of non-traditional materials and his bold use of color. He retired in 2002 and passed away in 2008.