The avant-garde Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto has said, “dirty is good.” These three words capture the eccentric designer’s love of a dark and disheveled — yet dapper — look. A master tailor with a distinctive style, he creates everything from coats and jackets to day dresses and evening gowns.
Yamamoto was born to a World War II widow in 1943. By the time he was 26, he had a law degree from Keio University and a fashion degree from Bunka Fashion College. In 1969, he won two Japanese fashion awards — the Endo Award and the Soen Award — which included a round-trip ticket to Paris.
It was in the French capital that Yamamoto realized the fashion world was changing. A casual aesthetic was replacing formal and classical sensibilities. He soon set up his first label — Y’s — and embarked upon designing heavy-duty sportswear.
Yamamoto launched women’s collections in 1977 in Tokyo, in 1981 in Paris and in 1982 in New York. Their pieces loosened the traditional female clothing silhouette in favor of shapes more typical of menswear: simple cuts, minimal details and generous proportions. In 1983, the New York Times wrote, “Yohji Yamamoto may stand barely five feet tall, but his effect on world fashion in the last two years has been enormous.”
In 1984, he made his first foray into men’s fashion under the Yohji Yamamoto label. In 1994, he was awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture and, in 2002, he became the creative director of Adidas’s Y-3.
Yamamoto’s fashion has been the subject of exhibitions around the world, including “May I help you” in 2002 at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris, “Correspondences” in 2005 at the Gallery of Modern Art in Florence, Italy, and “Painting and Weaving Opportunity” in 2017 at Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery. In 2017, he received the DFA Lifetime Achievement Award.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Yohji Yamamoto clothing, accessories, handbags and more.
Yohji Yamamoto Vintage Jacket & Skirt Set from the 1990s
By Yohji Yamamoto
Located in PARIS, FR
A midnight blue wool twinset by Yohji Yamamoto from the late 1990s. The single-breasted blazer features three-quarter sleeves with rounded hems, low-set pockets near the bottom hem, ...
Yohji Yamamoto Bias Cut Ribbon Trimmed Wool Lapel Jacket & Maxi Skirt Suit 1990s
By Yohji Yamamoto
Located in Chicago, IL
In his classic minimalist long flared silhouette, Japanese Yohji Yamamoto skillfully tailored with bias-cut draping both this navy ribbon-trimmed notched-lapel single-breasted lined ...
$3,121
Size: M/L (Jacket) M ( skirt )
Silk brocade jacket and skirt ensemble YVES SAINT LAURENT RIVE GAUCHE 1993
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Silk jacquard jacket and skirt evening ensemble. Main fabric composition: 86% silk, 14% metallic thread. Lining: 100% rayon. Button and buttonhole closure on the front and on the cu...
Tom Ford x Yves Saint Laurent SS 2002 *Safari* Suede Skirt Silk Top Suit 40 US 8
By Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in Montgomery, TX
An exceptionally rare and highly collectible two-piece ensemble from Tom Ford’s iconic Spring/Summer 2002 collection for Yves Saint Laurent, a defining moment of his tenure celebrate...
$2,850
Size: Jacket-Medium, Skirt- Small
Yohji Yamamoto Black Jacket And Skirt With Flaps Ensemble 1999
By Yohji Yamamoto
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Resurrection is excited to offer a vintage Yohji Yamamoto black jacket and skirt with flaps ensemble from 1999, featuring a tailored single-breasted jacket with structured shoulders,...
Christian Lacroix Skirt and a Jacket Decorated with Tie-and-Dye Lace Set
By Christian Lacroix
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Christian Lacroix - (Made in France) Set composed of a skirt and a jacket decorated with tie-and-dye lace. 42FR size indicated. Additional information: Condition: Very good conditio...
1970s Bill Blass Vintage Silk 4-Piece Jacket + Skirt Suit Dress Ensemble
By Bill Blass
Located in Sparks, NV
Absolutely stunning 4-piece ensemble by Bill Blass that can be worn separately or together. This set is constructed entirely of silk and features origami pleated ruffles and a detach...
Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche linen Skirt Suit, circa 2000
By Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in Toulon, FR
France circa 2000 A nice skirt suit by Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche. 100% Linen 3 pearly buttons on each sleeve and two at the waist to bend the jacket two pockets at the waist an...
John Galliano S/S89 'Charles James' Runway Bolero Jacket and Wrap Skirt Ensemble
By John Galliano
Located in Manchester, GB
John Galliano Spring/Summer 1989 ‘Charles James’ reddish/brown bolero jacket with integral waistcoat and bright raspberry red bias cut wrap skirt. Jacket in excellent condition. Ski...
A/W2000 Alexander McQueen tailored set blazer & skirt
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Alexander McQueen tailored blazer and skirt set This rare Alexander McQueen set from the 1990s pairs a sharply tailored blazer with a matching skirt, showcasing the precision and dr...
Martin Margiela Artisanal Evening Dress Made Out Of Vintage Petticoats, ss 2003
By Maison Martin Margiela
Located in London, GB
▪ Archival Margiela Evening Dress ▪ Creative Director: Martin Margiela ▪ Spring-Summer 2003 ▪ Museum Grade ▪ Constructed from repurposed vintage petticoats ▪ The outer skirt showca...
Christian Dior by John Galliano floral silk chiffon top and skirt set, fw 2001
By John Galliano for Christian Dior, Christian Dior
Located in London, GB
▪ Christian Dior top and skirt set ▪ Designed by John Galliano ▪ Floral printed silk chiffon in shades of cream, pink and brown ▪ Top with bugle beads sewn over denim-printed silk ▪...
Junya Watanabe 'Techno-Couture' honeycomb organza runway ensemble, fw 2000
By Junya Watanabe
Located in London, GB
▪ Junya Watanabe - Comme des Garçons 'Techno-Couture' runway ensemble ▪ Fall-Winter 2000 ▪ Museum Grade ▪ Cocoon coat of honeycomb constructed amber polyester-organza ▪ Slits for...
John Galliano black mohair jacket and skirt suit, fw 1999
By John Galliano
Located in London, GB
John Galliano black and white mohair striped jacket and skirt suit. Fall-Winter 1999
Issey Miyake Blue Denim and Printed Chiffon Ruffled Jacket and Skirt, FW 2003
By Issey Miyake
Located in London, GB
This Issey Miyake ensemble from the Fall-Winter 2003 collection consists of a structured denim jacket and matching skirt, both featuring an intricate layered construction with printe...
Gianfranco Ferré Voile Blouse and Silk Wide Leg Panel Pants Ensemble, SS 2008
By Gianfranco Ferré
Located in London, GB
This ensemble from Gianfranco Ferré’s Spring-Summer 2008 collection comprises a sheer blouse in dusty mauve cotton voile and a pair of wide-leg trousers constructed from alternating ...
