YSL's Le Smoking put women in a tuxedo

Yves Saint Laurent put women in a tuxedo. Le Smoking arrived in his 1966 collection, the first time a couturier made black tie a woman's eveningwear, not just a man's. Photographed by Helmut Newton, it outraged some and freed everyone else. Le smoking, not le costume.

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The post, as it ran

01YVES SAINT LAURENT PUT WOMEN IN A TUXEDO.

02LE SMOKING ARRIVED IN HIS 1966 COLLECTION.

03THE FIRST TIME A COUTURIER MADE BLACK TIE A WOMAN'S EVENINGWEAR, NOT JUST A MAN'S.

04PHOTOGRAPHED BY HELMUT NEWTON. IT OUTRAGED SOME, FREED EVERYONE ELSE.

05LE SMOKING, NOT LE COSTUME.

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