Yves Saint Laurent was 21 years old when he became Dior’s artistic director in 1957.
Saint Laurent succeeded Christian Dior after Dior died unexpectedly in October 1957. His appointment made him one of the youngest leaders of a major Paris couture house. He had already joined Dior in 1955 as a young assistant and had worked closely within the house before taking over its creative direction.
His first collection for Dior was presented in 1958 and introduced the Trapeze line, which became an important early success. The collection used a looser, more youthful silhouette than the tightly shaped lines associated with the original New Look.
The age is sometimes confused because Saint Laurent was 21 when appointed but 22 when his first Dior collection was shown. His independent fashion house opened later, in 1961.