Eye On Design: Trapeze Summer Dress By YSL for House of Dior

trapeze dress ysl dior photo by gail worley
Photos By Gail

Yves Saint Laurent  was hired was hired as Christian Dior’s assistant designer in June 1955. When Dior suddenly died in 1957 — even though he had expressed a desire for Saint Laurent to succeed him — the fashion house’s management was initially hesitant about putting its empire, which by then accounted for more than half of all French haute couture exports, in the hands of a 21-year-old.

trapeze dress ysl dior photo by gail worey

However, the success of Saint Laurent’s debut Spring-Summer 1958 collection reassured the directors. Saint Laurent’s Trapeze line — illustrated here by the Vacances Day Dress — freed the waist, heralding the liberated spirit of the 1960s.

Photographed in the Brooklyn Museum as Part of the Exhibit Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams, which runs through January 2022.

Leave a Reply