The first success was the victory in the competition cocktail dresses for a project organized by Woolmark (International Secretariat of wool). The then editor of Vogue arranged his meeting with Christian Dior. After barely 15 minutes of conversation Dior hired a young Saint-Laurent as a principal designer. After the death of Dior in 1957, stood at the head of YSL fashion house of Dior, and saved it from bankruptcy.

In 1958, Yves Saint Laurent has presented his first collection, by presenting the so-called. trapezoidal line. It aroused great sensation because it was the contrast with previous proposals for Dior, but still sold great. By Laurent await not only the successes, such as becoming the leading designer Dior at the age of 21 years, but also of failure. This cooperation ended fairly quickly in 1960 when the designer presented a collection of avant-garde too.

Associated with the work of the future call-up to war in the Franco-Algerian. Saint-Laurent suffered a nervous collapse after deep brutal rejection by fellow soldiers because of their homosexual orientation. Was taken to hospital where he underwent psychiatric treatment ineffective electric with a view to its transformation into hetero sexusal. Saint-Laurent where he went from nervous breakdown, left the house of Dior, he founded his own house and with the financial assistance of his partner in life and in business Pierre Berg. From that time it was recognized by the division of roles, designed by Yves, Pierre held a party to financial and organizational. 60. Years and 70. is the biggest breakthrough triumph and collections. YSL look promoted in fashion - a short leather jackets, boots. He introduced fashion to tweed jackets, and finally in 1966 a woman clothed in smoking, previously reserved for men. The request to place gender was an important motive for his work. As argued fashion "is to make women not only beautiful, but also add them self-confidence." YSL was the designer of his era, in which women take the "male" occupations in which young people develop to the world as adults and put to him by the opposition in different clothes. In pursuing the democratization of fashion, will soon also be made available on the Rive Gauche line stores. As the first wizard fashion, hired for their shows missing models.