Yves Saint Laurent

by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Klas Fahlen (Illustrator)

Learn about incredible story of Yves Saint Laurent! The trailblazing trendsetter who changed fashion forever.

Growing up in the Algerian city of Oran, little Yves loved searching through his mother's wardrobe and designing dresses for paper dolls. Sadly, his life outside the Saint Laurent family wasn't so happy. At school he was bullied for having different hobbies and interests to his classmates, and sometimes even pretended to be ill to avoid lessons. But Yves, didn't let the mean voices hold him back. He adored sewing and spent hours developing his skills, making tiny outfits from scrap fabric. His hard work paid off, and by eighteen he was studying at the top fashion school in Paris. Soon after, he was asked to join the famous fashion house Dior, and later became their top couturier!

But things took a turn when he was forced to join the army and ended up in hospital. To make matters worse, he discovered that had lost his job . . . Fortunately, with the love and support of his partner, Pierre, Yves slow got better. Before long, he was ready for a new adventure and decided to start his own fashion house! Yves soon became known for his chic and fashionable designs. From tuxedo suits to pea coats, his styles revolutionized women's clothing and still influence fashion today. From the bestselling series Little People, BIG DREAMS, this title is the perfect gift for little creatives and fashionistas. 

This powerful book features quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the designer's life.
 
Little People, BIG DREAMS is a bestselling biography series for kids that explores the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream.
 
This empowering series of books offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardcover and paperback versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. With rewritten text for older children, the treasuries each bring together a multitude of dreamers in a single volume. You can also collect a selection of the books by theme in boxed gift sets. Activity books and a journal provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children.

Genres: Biography, Fashion, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Art, Childrens, LGBT

32 pages, Hardcover

Published June 3, 2025

About the author

You may find books from the "Little People BIG DREAMS" series on author page - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Reviews

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most people have heard of the famous designer, Yves Saint Laurent. If not, then this book will introduce you to this talented man. He had a difficult childhood than many other children, but not because of his family, but the bullies he went to school with. He had been drawing clothing for his sisters paper dolls and making his own for years. Despite this, he continued to draw and even make small outfits from scraps of material. He had excellent sewing skills and by the time he was 18, he was studying at the top fashion school in Paris. When Christian Dior heard about him, he hired him to work with him. When Dior died, he became the youngest couturier ever. He had a very supportive partner who helped him start his own couturier house when he returned from the Algerian war. He was also the first to make high fashion affordable to women with a ready to wear line. I learned quite a bit about Yves Saint Laurent by reading this little book. It is written in child friendly language, with eye catching illustrations. A book to show children that even if your interest is different from others, even if you might be teased or bullied for that interest. don't give up. Dream Big! All of these books include photographs and a timeline at the back of the book for additional information. If you are looking for a way to help kids reach for the stars and go after their dreams, pick up this book or any in the Little People, Big Dreams series. The illustrations by Klas Fahlen were whimsical, yet realistic and add to the book. This is one I recommend to school and public libraries.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this short biography provides basic information about Yves Saint Laurent, the fashion designer and how he used his childhood fascination with design to turn it into a profitable career, changing fashion along the way, the book would be stronger if it discussed how he dealt with his "mental health crisis" and some of the homophobia directed at him. It does make mention of his loving relationship with Pierre Berge, which is a plus, but Pierre is referred to as "a guy named Pierre" in the narrative, which seems rather dismissive. Of course, clothing should reflect the person and make him/her/them feel confident (and fabulous), which is the main point of this biography. I just wanted more, even in a slim biography for a young audience. Having some of his designs as part of the artwork adds a stylish note to the entire project.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the opening pages, Little People, BIG DREAMS: Yves Saint Laurent felt like a sure thing. The mid-century brightness, Yves sprawled on the living-room floor with crayons, his clapping sister and her Barbies nearby, his mother applying makeup beside a closet bursting with bold prints—it all signals a story that understands both fashion and childhood inspiration.

As a rabid Project Runway fan, I was instantly in. Yves cutting paper dolls from Vogue and dressing them in scraps from his mother’s clothes felt especially familiar; our house, too, was always scattered with fashion and home magazines.

This volume may have some of the strongest illustrations in the entire series—stylish, confident, and bursting with color and movement. Nina Garcia would give it a thumbs up!

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is there enough here to justify this purchase for the school library? It is the story – that I knew nothing of, quite naturally – of someone who broke the mould with women's clothing, and from a ridiculously young age. And talking of ridicule, someone who seems to have faced a lot of homophobia, although these pages don't actually find a way to call it that. So the answer is "probably", even if I felt this needed one last oomph, one final flash of moral, one further and better reason for us to look up to YSL. It's certainly not bad – three and a half stars.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so curious about this book, that I just had to read it. It's unfair to know too much about a subject THEN judge the 32-page children's book about them. I guess ending it once he founded Rive Gauche in 1966 was pretty logical, is all I can say... lol.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC from Edelweiss.

[Jacqueline Nyathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable book about the great designer’s life, with wonderful illustrations.
Many thanks to Frances Lincoln Children’s Books and Edelweiss for early access to a DRC