Though it now seems impossible that fashion could exist without ready-to-wear, no couturier had ever designed and produced clothes specifically for the average woman until Yves Saint Laurent (1936-2008) opened the first of his Rive Gauche boutiques in 1966. Even before founding his eponymous couture house in 1962, Yves Saint Laurent expressed interest in creating clothing that was accessible and functional for people beyond traditional couture patrons. Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé chose to realize this concept in the Latin Quarter of Paris’s Left Bank, known as “Rive Gauche” in French, for its bohemian, countercultural spirit. The boutique was an immediate success. Its vibrant, somewhat androgynous offerings quickly became a phenomenon among the Parisian youth. Icons of 1960s and 1970s style such as Francoise Hardy, Catherine Deneuve, and Talitha Getty frequently wore Rive Gauche. Major media attention spread this fervor around the globe, and Saint Laurent soon opened Rive Gauche boutiques in New York, Milan, Saint-Tropez, Munich, and many other cities. As his career progressed, Saint Laurent felt increasingly that, because the world of haute couture was so disconnected from the realities of modern life, Rive Gauche was a truer mode of expression than his couture house could ever be. With this, Yves Saint Laurent was among the first couturiers to recognize that fashion trickles up as well as down. This brand set the model for prêt-à-porter, that took the fashion world by storm. 

This lots includes eight belts. 

THE FIRST 
Rope and tassel belt in navy, royal blue, and orange.
Label: Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Style/Serial No.: N/A
Made in France

Approximate Measurements:
Length (tip of buckle to end of belt): 31"
Width (center back): 1.5"

THE SECOND 
Wide belt made of woven black and blue rope with hammered gold-tone metal embellishments and tassel at front.
Label: Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Style/Serial No.: N/A
Made in France 

Approximate Measurements:
Length (tip of buckle to end of belt): 25"
Width (center back): 3"

THE THIRD 
Braided, gold-tone rope belt with marine-inspired, metal embellishments and snail shells. 
Label: Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Style/Serial No.: N/A
Made in France 

Approximate Measurements:
Length (tip of buckle to end of belt): 31"
Width (center back): 2"

THE FOURTH 
Belt in braided black cord with metallic thread and tassel embellishment. 
Label: Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Style/Serial No.: N/A
Made in France 

Approximate Measurements:
Length (tip of buckle to end of belt): 34"
Width (center back): 1.7"

THE FIFTH 
Gold-tone metal chain belt with hammered, nautical motifs. Bar and circle closure. 
Label: Yves Saint Laurent
Style/Serial No.: N/A
Made in France

Approximate Measurements:
Length (tip of buckle to end of belt): 32.5"
Width (center back): 3.5"

THE SIXTH 
Black woven fabric belt with gold-tone metal and beaded embellishments. Strap and buckle closure. 
Label: Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Style/Serial No.: N/A
Made in France

Approximate Measurements:
Length (tip of buckle to end of belt): 31"
Width (center back): 2"

THE SEVENTH 
Wide belt in brown, red, and white cord with embellished gold-tone metal buckle. Hook and loop closure.
Label: Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Style/Serial No.: N/A
Made in France 

Approximate Measurements:
Length (tip of buckle to end of belt): 31"
Width (center back): 2"

THE EIGHTH 
Wide belt in black and white braided cord with gold-tone hardware. 
Label: Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Style/Serial No.: N/A
Made in France

Approximate Measurements:
Length (tip of buckle to end of belt): 36"
Width (center back): 2"