Second-hand Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Saint Laurent is a house whose older pieces are sought after for precise reasons: constructed cuts, fine fabrics, and an architecture of the garment that shows on the inside as much as on the outside. Second-hand, the label is the most important piece of information, because the house has existed under several names and licensed some lines: the exact wording, the country of manufacture and the composition say much more than the name alone. The sizing follows French conventions and stays structured, often narrower than contemporary production for the same size. On a pre-owned piece, what matters most happens at the stress points: shoulder seams, the lining under the arms - which can be replaced - and how well the collar holds. Fabric made shiny by an iron that was too hot, on the other hand, does not come back.