Yves Saint Laurent hosts gala farewell

The Associated Press reports that some 2,000 movers and shakers in the fashion world descended upon Paris's Centre Pompidou on Tuesday for the grand farewell of gay fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, whose final show included both a new collection and a career retrospective. The 65-year-old designer, who announced his retirement two weeks ago, told Le Monde, "We live in a world of disorder and decadence. This struggle for elegance and beauty caused me much distress. I no longer felt part of the world." While Saint Laurent's house of haute couture is no more, his name will remain visible: In 1999 he sold the rights to his label--including the ready-to-wear Rive Gauche collection, perfumes, cosmetics, and accessories--to Gucci Group NV for $70 million cash plus royalties. Out American designer Tom Ford has since been in charge of the ready-to-wear collection, fragrances, and cosmetics.