3. Yves Saint Laurent Le Smoking

Yves Saint Laurent originally debuted his controversial alternative to the Little Black Dress, Le Smoking, in 1966. A feminine version of the male tuxedo, Le Smoking pioneered minimalist androgynous styles for women and was a precursor to modern day power and trouser suits. Years later, Yves’ successors have ensured that every collection includes a current variation of the signature Le Smoking. In the designer's words: “For a woman, le smoking is an indispensable garment with which she finds herselfcontinually in fashion, because it is about style, not fashion. Fashionscome and go, but style is forever.”

Yves Saint Laurent Le Smoking, price upon request, www.ysl.com. 

Photo © Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent