(FILES) French designer Yves Saint Laurent hand kisses model Claudia Schiffer, on January 22 1997 in Paris, after the presentation of his Spring-summer Haute Couture collection. Yves Saint Laurent, one the top French designers of the 20th century, died in the evening on June 01, 2008, in Paris, the Pierre-Berge-Saint Laurent Foundation said. The reclusive French maestro, who had retired from haute couture in 2002 after four decades at the top of his trade, had been ill for some time. AFP PHOTO PIERRE VERDY (Photo credit should read PIERRE VERDY/AFP/Getty Images)