Yves Saint Laurent’s women’s tuxedo, introduced in 1966, was called Le Smoking. The design became one of the most influential examples of adapting traditionally masculine formalwear for women.
Saint Laurent presented the tuxedo as part of his haute couture work during the 1960s. Its sharp tailoring, satin details, and trouser silhouette challenged conventional expectations about women’s evening dress. The name uses the French term for a dinner jacket or tuxedo.
Le Smoking is sometimes confused with a generic pantsuit or with later tuxedo-inspired collections. Its historical importance comes from the specific combination of a formal black tailored jacket, trousers, and the confident styling associated with Saint Laurent’s presentation of women’s eveningwear.
The design also became closely linked with the changing social landscape of the 1960s. It demonstrated that a woman’s formal wardrobe could draw directly from menswear without losing its status as luxury fashion. Photographs of figures such as Catherine Deneuve and Bianca Jagger helped cement the style’s cultural reputation.