It's been sixty-two years since the French fashion house Saint Laurent, which embodies sleek sophistication and high-quality leather work, was founded. While trends, creative directors, and the incomparable Yves himself have come and gone, the French fashion house has retained its top spot in the luxury landscape, particularly within the unruly world of designer handbags. From heritage silhouettes launched at the height of the '60s to styles that debuted just a few seasons ago, the best Saint Laurent bags stand the test of time because they reflect the brand's core value: offering timeless and practical goods that women really do want to wear.
"Saint Laurent boasts a broad collection of coveted handbags," Elizabeth Layne, Chief Marketing Officer of Rebag, tells Marie Claire over email. As for which of the designer bags to invest in precisely, Layne has several suggestions. "Among these are the practical Loulou shoulder bag, ideal for everyday use, and the stylish Lou camera handbag, a fantastic choice for those starting their luxury collection. The sleek Sac de Jour, known for its timeless design, and the chic Le 5 à 7 hobo bag are also noteworthy Saint Laurent styles," she notes. However, if you ask a fashion girl like Hailey Bieber, the Rhode founder will direct you to the slouchy Le 5 à 7 shoulder bag or its sister Bea tote bag, both of which have become constants in her covetable street style.
Whether you're splurging on your first designer bag or seeking to add to your existing collection, allow our curated selection of the best YSL bags to guide you. Ahead, you'll discover tips from Layne on where and how to start shopping, celebrity street style endorsements, and 10 of the brand's most prevalent styles.
Le 5 à 7 Bag
When a bag makes its way onto the arms of Taylor Swift, congratulations—you have an It style on your hands. Debuted in the brand's Spring/Summer 2021 show, Saint Laurent's Le 5 à 7 comes in a slew of fabrications, from canvas to calfskin, and is offered in both a shoulder bag and bucket-like silhouette.
Layne particularly shouts out the style's hobo designs: "Chic and compact, the Saint Laurent Le 5 à 7 shoulder bag is ideal for evening dressing. It features a simple silhouette, with clean, classic lines, and the YSL logo on the front," she details.
Bea Tote
An elongated iteration of Saint Laurent's beloved Le 5 à 7, the Bea is an east-west bag with a simplistic design that allows the fashion house's signature logo—named The Cassandre after the illustrious graphic designer who created the motif—to be the sole focal point. The Bea is a versatile and substantial bag that easily houses your daily essentials, including a laptop. Just take it from Endorsed by Bieber, Kate Moss, Zoë Kravitz, and Rihanna, who carry the tote for afternoon errands, dinner dates, and long-haul flights.
Loulou Bag
Named after Loulou de la Falaise, a dear friend and muse of Yves Saint Laurent, the envelope-flap Loulou has swiftly climbed the ranks as one of Saint Laurent's best-selling styles. "First introduced in 2017 as part of Saint Laurent’s Fall/Winter collection, the Loulou bag features a distinctive chevron-quilted pattern," Layne recounts. "Renowned for its practicality, it can be worn as either a shoulder or crossbody bag." Softly quilted like a pillow, the Loulou comes in various fabrications, including plush velvet and buttery calfskin leather.
Jamie 4.3 Bag
Taking inspiration from the popular, 2018-introduced Jamie quilted flap bag, the 4.3 iteration debuted on the Spring/Summer 2023 runways in small to supersized options. The exaggerated maxi size offers impressive practicality—so much so that it's a solid choice for an elevated laptop bag that fits all your essentials and won't make you look like a pack mule journeying into the office. Plus, the Saint Laurent Jamie 4.3 boasts the golden stamp of approval from Marie Claire's discerning fashion director, Sara Holzman.
Rive Gauche Bag
There's a reason the celebrity style set and fashion friends reach for Saint Laurent's Rive Gauche tote year after year, summer after summer as their best beach bags and weekend carry-alls. The boxy style features the iconic YSL logo and easy-to-carry leather top handles, a quintessential merger of fashion and function. The designer house offers its easygoing Rive Gauche bag in various iterations and textiles, from relaxed raffia in sandy shades to luxurious suede in rich brown.
Manhattan Bag
Next up: The Manhattan. As its name implies, this boxy briefcase is ideal for toting downtown all day. Or, when scaled up to its medium (as seen on Bella Hadid) or large silhouette, it doubles as an incredibly chic and polished work bag. Prices begin at $2,990 in its smallest crossbody iteration and range up to $4,200 for the larger leather tote bag.
Icare Bag
"The more recently introduced Icare Maxi Shopping Bag, an oversized carry-all unveiled in 2022, has rapidly gained its reputation within fashion circles," details Layne. "Worn by celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Zoë Kravitz, this capacious handbag will fit all of the wearer's essentials—and more." Offered in one supersized silhouette, choose between leather in inky black or light ivory or a lightweight raffia.
Le 37 Bag
For busy days out and about, this is the bucket bag you want by your side—or, more specifically, on your shoulder. This slouchy style features a hook closure, ensuring your goods stay where they belong—inside—and an adjustable, detachable shoulder strap for your customization. Prices start at $2,100 for its mini size and tick up to $2,900 for the larger bucket.
Sac de Jour
Another style whose intention lies in its name, the Sac de Jour, "bag of the day "in French, is the ideal everyday bag. "Renowned as one of Saint Laurent's most iconic handbags, the Sac de Jour is lauded for its timeless elegance and flawless design," says the CMO of Rebag. "It showcases distinctive and comfortable top handles, complemented by a detachable and adjustable shoulder strap for added versatility." This spacious style is lined in leather and comes with two zippered compartments to fit all your daily, on-the-go essentials.
Lou Camera Bag
"With a rectangular or square shape and distinctive matelassé stitching, the Saint Laurent Lou camera bag provides a compact yet spacious design perfect for those who favor a modern aesthetic," Layne shares. This chevron-quilted bag, which debuted in 2019, doubles as either a shoulder bag or crossbody, courtesy of its adjustable strap. Starting at $1,490 for the mini, the Lou is one of Saint Laurent's less expensive luxury handbags.
How to Buy a YSL Bag
Rebag's Layne encourages you to hit the books—or, in this case, the Internet and other fashion-specific resources—to gather background information before pressing 'buy'. "Before investing in a Saint Laurent handbag, or any luxury handbag for that matter, it's important for shoppers to research the style's investment value," she says.
From there, then you can orient yourself to what exactly you're looking for and, as Layne describes, "the bag's functionality in relation to [your] lifestyle and how well it aligns with [your] personal style and preferences." For instance, are you now working in an office a few days a week and searching for a dutiful laptop bag? A large carryall like the Sac de Jour will tick that box. But if you're hunting for a smaller everyday style, the Sac de Jour, a versatile crossbody-cum-top-handle designed for toting around all day, is a silhouette to consider.
