One can only imagine what the exiled Coco Chanel thought as this ordinary man with ordinary personal style took over the fashion crown she once held in Paris.

In 1946, Christian Dior founded his house. In so doing, he launched, the "New Look". The New Look lasted in popularity way beyond the designer's early death in 1957.

Dior's death in October of that year left the responsibility for the upcoming January show in the hands of a young man with little experience. That young man turned in a memorable show, creating an "All About Eve" kind of career start for him and saving the House of Dior at the same time. That young man was Yves Saint Laurent.

Yves Saint Laurent helped to launch the Dior house even further into the stratosphere of the fashion world. He took the licensing concept engaged by Christian and extended it out to everything except bubblegum. Why not bubblegum? You can't see the logo when its being used and it only ends up on the sidewalk.

The Dior style has carried on since then, thanks to talented designers like Englishman John Galliano. In charge of women’s fashion since 1996, he has managed to revisit the label’s codes with the House's visionary spirit and a pinch of eccentricity. That's what it takes to succeed.

In his later years, Yves Saint Laurent was quoted as saying that the current state of high fashion in the early part of the 21st Century is garbage.

That won't get him invited to many Dior parties!