Born 1936 in Oran, Algeria, he studied in Paris, graduating in modern languages, and was employed by Chritian Dior in 1955 after winning an International Wool Secretariat design competition. Saint Laurent became Haute Couture designer when Dior died in 1957. He introduced the trapeze dress in his first collection for Dior in 1958. Eventually, he opened his own couture house, financed by Pierre Berge, in 1962.