femalenetwork.com

Yves Saint Laurent, 71, was the last of an era of fashion designers that included Coco Chanel and Christian Dior.

"There are not that many people in the pantheon of fashion," says Pierre Berge, chief executive of the YSL fashion house, told in an interview at France Info Radio. "There will be two who will undeniably remain -- one who symbolized the first part of the 20th century, and that's Chanel, and the other one who will symbolize the second part of the 20th century, and that's Yves Saint Laurent."

Inspired by street fashion, Saint Laurent believed "to make clothes that reflect our times." Trends YSL is largely responsible are pants, peacoats, safari jackets, leopard prints, trench coats, and peasant-inspired clothing in rich fabrics. He has become synonymous with the glamour of the Paris catwalk and the elegance of haute couture.

He will be missed, but his inspiration to today’s young designers will live on.