Yves Saint Laurent

Discover our carefully authenticated selection of vintage Yves Saint Laurent pieces: Kate and Loulou bags, Le Smoking blazers, Mondrian dresses, jewellery and iconic accessories from the archives. Every piece is hand-evaluated by our team on avenue Louise and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Because Yves Saint Laurent is not just a brand — it is a permanent revolution in female elegance.

The history of Yves Saint Laurent, from Dior to the Rive Gauche

Born in 1936 in Oran, Yves Saint Laurent arrived in Paris at 17 and joined the house of Dior as an assistant. At 21, following Christian Dior's death, he saved the house with his "Trapeze" collection (1958). In 1961, with his partner Pierre Bergé, he founded the house of Yves Saint Laurent on avenue Marceau in Paris. In 1966, he opened the first luxury ready-to-wear boutique, Saint Laurent Rive Gauche — a conceptual revolution that democratised luxury fashion. His innovations are foundational: Le Smoking (1966, an absolute scandal and a feminist revolution), the Mondrian dress (1965, wearable art), the vinyl trench (1966), the female biker jacket, the Opéra-Ballets Russes collection (1976). Saint Laurent was the first couturier to use Black models in his runway shows. After the designer's retirement in 2002, Hedi Slimane renamed the house "Saint Laurent" in 2012 and imposed a rock-and-roll Californian aesthetic. Anthony Vaccarello has led creative direction since 2016.

Iconic Yves Saint Laurent pieces

Le Smoking and trouser suits

Created in 1966, Le Smoking is the most revolutionary piece in the history of women's fashion: a tuxedo-inspired trouser suit. Scandalous in 1966, it became the icon of chic feminism. Vintage Smokings from 1966–2002 are the most collected YSL pieces — a 1970s example in good condition can reach €15,000 at auction.

The Kate bag

The emblem of the Hedi Slimane era: a structured flap clutch with a YSL buckle closure and gold chain. Sleek, androgynous and instantly recognisable. The first Kate bags from Slimane's collections (2012–2015) are already benchmark pieces. Highly sought-after in grained black or nude leather.

The Loulou bag

Launched by Anthony Vaccarello, the Loulou is quilted with a gold chain interwoven with leather and a YSL buckle closure. It embodies the house's feline, nocturnal aesthetic under Vaccarello. Early Louloues from 2017–2019 collections are highly sought-after in quilted black leather.

The Mondrian dress (1965)

One of the most important pieces in the history of fashion: a white jersey sheath divided into blocks of primary colours bordered in black, a direct homage to Piet Mondrian. It features in the collections of the world's great museums. Original pieces are extremely rare and invaluable.

Rive Gauche accessories

Saint Laurent Rive Gauche pieces (1966–2002) — silk scarves, belts, structured leather bags, costume jewellery — are the most accessible entry points on the YSL vintage market. 1970s–1980s jewellery (Berber necklaces, gold bracelets) is particularly collectible.

How to authenticate an Yves Saint Laurent piece

Authenticating a YSL piece requires the examination of several combined criteria. Here are the 7 checkpoints we systematically verify in our atelier on avenue Louise.

1. The label and signature

"Yves Saint Laurent" (accented) for couture and Rive Gauche pieces (1961–2012); "Saint Laurent" for Slimane and Vaccarello pieces (since 2012). Coherence between the label and the production era is a first authentication marker.

2. The YSL buckle

The YSL buckle (interlocking initials) is engraved with precision in solid metal. The proportions of Y, S and L are strict and consistent. A lightweight buckle with superficial engravings or incorrect proportions is an immediate red flag.

3. The leather and materials

YSL leather is consistent in quality: regular grain, natural scent, appropriate suppleness. The Loulou's quilted leather features perfectly regular diamonds with precisely stitched intersections.

4. The stitching

Stitching is regular, tight and in a matched thread colour. On couture pieces (Le Smoking, dresses), the quality is exceptional. On bags, stitching is clean with no skipped stitches.

5. The hardware

Closures, chains and rivets are in solid metal, engraved "Saint Laurent" or "YSL" depending on the era. Kate and Loulou chains are heavy, perfectly linked, with no open or poorly welded links.

6. The interior lining

The interior is lined in leather or monogrammed fabric depending on the model. The interior label is sewn, never glued, with precise, clean typography.

7. Historical coherence

Each YSL era has its own visual codes. A bag labelled "Yves Saint Laurent" with Slimane-era characteristics is incoherent. Knowledge of labels, forms and materials by period is essential.

Our method: at Les Enfants d'Édouard, every piece undergoes a three-stage examination — visual inspection, technical verification (label, YSL buckle, leather, stitching) and cross-referencing against our reference database. Every authenticated piece comes with our certificate of authenticity.

YSL size guide

YSL ready-to-wear: sizing

Yves Saint Laurent couture pieces (1961–2002) use French sizing: 36 (S), 38 (M), 40 (L), 42 (XL). They are often cut very close to the body. Current Saint Laurent pieces (Slimane, Vaccarello) run slim — size up if in doubt.

Why invest in a vintage YSL piece

Yves Saint Laurent vintage is one of the most active and diverse secondhand markets in luxury. Couture pieces signed by Yves Saint Laurent himself (1961–2002) have incomparable heritage value. 1970s–1980s costume jewellery has seen significant reappraisal since 2015. Slimane-era bags (2012–2015) are already collected as rock minimalism benchmarks.

For those wishing to sell a YSL piece, we offer an expert consignment service.

Our YSL selection in Brussels, avenue Louise

Our boutique Les Enfants d'Édouard, 175 avenue Louise, 1050 Brussels, carries an authenticated selection of vintage Yves Saint Laurent. We welcome you Tuesday to Saturday and offer private appointments.

Care and maintenance of your YSL pieces

For leather bags, store in the original dust bag with tissue paper. Clean with a slightly damp cloth and condition twice a year. Chains are polished with a dry microfibre cloth.

For Le Smoking and couture pieces, dry clean at a specialist in luxury couture. Hang on wide hangers in breathable cotton covers.

For costume jewellery, store separately in individual pouches. Avoid contact with perfume and perspiration.

Frequently asked questions about vintage YSL

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Looking for an authentic Yves Saint Laurent piece?

Browse our full YSL selection or book an appointment with our team for a private viewing on avenue Louise.

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• ✓ Boutique at 175 Avenue Louise: 1050 Brussels