Fashion Icon and design legend Yves Saint Laurent passed away late Sunday at his home in Paris. The Algerian born designer suffered prolonged illness from a brain tumor and will be buried Thursday.

While I did not have the privilege of living through his revolution, I am thankful for the ability to display boldly a fashion sense that would have been previously perceived as masculine, if not for Laurent. He was the first to break gender lines by putting women in pants, suits, slacks, and even tuxedos. His pieces were incredibly daring, sexy, and provocative. We’ll not experience this dramatic a sea change in fashion during our life time.

Be sure to check out a great retrospective at Fashion Time Magazine