Yves Saint Laurent, the French designer whose work defined the modern era of fashion, died on Sunday evening in Paris after being in poor health for some time. He was 71.

In a career spanning nearly half a century, Saint Laurent exploded the lexicon of style, creating such famed looks as le smoking (a tuxedo for women), the saharienne (the safari suit), and hippie de luxe. His belief that women should wear trouser suits became the perfect sartorial expression for 1970s feminism, combining boardroom dressing and sex to powerful effect.