Who succeeded Christian Dior as creative director in 1957?

Yves Saint Laurent succeeded Christian Dior as creative leader of the Dior house in 1957. Dior had selected the exceptionally young designer as his successor shortly before Dior died in October that year.

Saint Laurent joined Dior in June 1955, when he was 19, after presenting sketches that impressed the established couturier. He quickly moved from studio tasks to contributing designs for Dior collections. At 21, he became the house’s head designer, making him one of the youngest leaders in haute couture.

His first Dior collection, for spring 1958, introduced the Trapeze line. Its gently flaring dresses were a major success and helped protect the company’s finances. Saint Laurent’s Dior tenure ended in 1960 after he was conscripted into military service and later dismissed. He went on to establish his own fashion house with Pierre Bergé, becoming a defining figure of twentieth-century fashion.