As a teen in the early 50’s, he began sketching his ideas of how modern women should dress and writer Michel de Brunhoff published them.This gave Laurent the opportunity to meet other fashion designers, such as Christian Dior. 

During his early years, Laurent attended fashion school at Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, a high fashion trade school, which led him to enter an international design contest and win. 

In 1962, Laurent launched his first collection of the Peacoats and wide-leg trousers combination. He introduced women's power suits and took traditionally masculine clothes, and made them womenswear. Laurent also created hats, handbags and jewelry to compliment each creation. 

After a few years passed, he launched his first ever perfume called ‘Y.’ The perfume is a sage and ginger fragrance. 

By 1970, he became one of the most popular designers in fashion by being culturally inclusive and diverse. After perfecting his brand, in 1982 he won the International Fashion Award of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and three years later won an Oscar de la mode. 

Laurent made an impactful change in women's fashion such as tight pants, thigh-high boots and safari jackets. Later, Laurent met Pierre Bergé, a French Industrialist, and got married in 2008. Pierre was a large contributor in YSL’s empire by co-founding the company. 

While designing and changing the industry of fashion, Laurent was suffering from Brain Cancer and passed away in 2008. Although many friends and other designers knew he was battling it, his death still left damage in the community. 

Shortly after, Bergé auctioned off some of his work and raised more than $300 million dollars for AIDS research. From 2012 to 2016 French photographer and creative director for YSL took over to continue Laurent’s legacy. 

Eventually in 2017, Pierre passed from Myopathy, a disease that affects the muscles in your body. Currently, YSL is run by French-based corporation Kering. 

Unfortunately, Laurent cannot see the process the fashion industry has made since his passing, but the legacy he created will forever be remembered by the progress he made in womens fashion.