Yves Saint Laurent Handbags

No matter how much it goes in and out of style, my dedication to animal print persists. In the hands of unskillful designers, it can often go sadly awry, but when done correctly, I enjoy it so thoroughly.

And some may disagree, but I think the Yves Saint Lauren Animal Print Muse II is done absolutely right. In order to temper a strong statement like leopard, it’s important to keep a bag’s other lines and features sleek and clean, which is exactly what the folks at Yves Saint Laurent did. The Muse II was a fabulous candidate for the animal print treatment because of both its inherent simplicity of design and also its status as a must-have It Bag. That way, if you don’t like the animal print, there are plenty of other versions available. And if you do, not only is it an It Bag, but it’s one that everyone who sees you will notice immediately. For better or for worse. But I think it’s for better. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $2295.

I have to tell you about a handbag obsession of mine. To see a stamped suede finish off a bag that I already adore, my heart melts. I don’t know what it is about the soft touch and matte finish, but I have a weak spot for printed suede bags. One of the best brands to pull this off is Yves Saint Laurent . I am actually mad at myself that I did not splurge on the YSL Croc Muse Two which has two colors that I adore with a sueced croc pattern. I LOVE. And then this week on Purse Blog Amanda covered the Yves Saint Laurent Y-Bow Suede Bowler which stamped the suede to look like lizard skin.

Today I bring you another amazing option that brings you lizard-print suede on the longtime favorite Yves Saint Laurent Muse. The Muse is a classic YSL bag and it is easy to see why. YSL continuously brings us designs that stand out from others, like the rounded top on the Muse. I am not drawn toward brown bags, but I desperately want this bag in for my fall wardrobe. It is truly perfect for the autumn; brown, suede, exotic print. Sure, it wouldn’t work in Florida as well, but imagine a brisk fall day when the leaves are turning and you have this perfect bag. There are double handles, a zipper closure, and inside pockets. Buy through Saks for $1395.

Ask anyone that knows me (including Megs and Vlad) - I’ve never had much of a problem forming an opinion. About pretty much anything, in fact. I was captain of the debate team in high school. I took lots of comparative lit classes in college because their assignments usually involved forming an opinion on a book and then arguing it in a paper. My life is exceedingly wordy and over-articulated. I talk too much.

Having said all of that, I can’t decide for the life of me what I think about the Yves Saint Laurent Y-Bow Suefe Bowler. I’m in a Yves Saint Laurent mood lately, partly because I like the way that they unconventionally combine materials and textures in some of their recent bags. I like that they stamped suede to look like lizard skin here, it’s a technique that most designers wouldn’t use in this combination. I also think that I might like the little bow ends coming out of each side, but I’m not sure. It might not work, and I have no idea how to decide if it does or not. As with the texture, I like that it’s unexpected, but instead of doing something interesting with the bag’s form or structure, it’s just a stuck-on decoration to a basic satchel. But maybe I’m okay with that - I just can’t decide. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $1695.

I’m in a big Yves Saint Laurent mood lately, and I’m not sure why. Normally, I like things that are a bit weirder, a bit flashier, or just a bit more unexpected. Which is not to say that YSL is boring, but their aesthetic is normally just a bit more tailored and simple than my own.

I keep finding YSL bags that I really like in the past couple of weeks, however, and the Yves Saint Laurent Deerskin Hobo is the most recent. I even like the shade of almost-chocolate brown that they used, which is exceptionally odd for me, and possibly means that I need to lay down for a moment. But it seems like it would be usable in most people’s wardrobes (if not my own, which is exceptionally heavy in black) for a variety of occasions and for most of the year. The seaming at the ends gives the bag a slightly more interesting shape than your average small hobo and the small chain elements to the handle add a bit of visual interest as well. All in all, another solid effort from YSL. Buy through Bluefly for $895.99.

I really hate to admit that Heidi Montag inspired me to do or say or think ANYTHING, but in this case of the Yves Saint Laurent Y Tote, I have to admit, she did. I wrote about her carrying this particular bag a few days ago on Bag That Style, and ever since I saw it, I’ve been intrigued.

Megs, who identified the bag from Heidi’s pictures, was told by the ladies in the YSL forum that the bag was from last year and no longer available, but I love nothing more than a challenge. So I was delighted to find the black version on Bluefly today and thought that since I hadn’t seen the bag before, maybe you guys hadn’t either. And really, it’s worth seeing - the leather used is so drool-worthy that it almost makes me want to try and pet it through my computer screen.

Heidi apparently uses hers for traveling, and although I can’t support any other life decision that she’s ever made, I think this would make a great carry-on. It’s roomy and has two different handle options, depending on what else you’re carrying. I’d have to see it in person to decide if the leather is durable enough, but Heidi’s light-colored iteration looked pretty perfect after her flight back from Mexico. Buy through Bluefly for $1596.

Are you starting to plan for this year’s holiday parties yet? Yeah, me neither. However, if you are, I think I’ve found a clutch you might like. Yes, I was without a doubt a bit speechless when I came across the Yves Saint Laurent Satin Ribbon Clutch. I’m sure you’ve picked up on my handbag two-step thought process. Step one, do I like it? Step two, where will I wear it? I don’t attend copious amounts of galas so for the life of me I can’t think where I’d carry this clutch during the Spring and Summer months. Can you?

Well, forget about the event, let’s focus on the bag itself. Black satin and velvet swirl together to create this clutch. Apparently there is some goldtone hardware somewhere on this bag, but it is hard to see with so much else going on. The bow is “eh”. I think the clutch could actually be just fine without it yet isn’t totally ruined with it. Frankly, this clutch isn’t like many other evening bags I’ve seen and this makes me like it even more. So, if you are stocking up for this year’s holiday season (t-minus 6ish months) then this might be an option. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $1530.

There is a brand that continues to churn out stunning wearable bags season after season, and it is Yves Saint Laurent. After the YSL Muse took the handbag world by storm, being one of the “it” bags during “it”-dom, the brand decided to follow up with the Muse Two. The difference between the two is in the style, with the Muse Two standing out as a chic toned-down version of the Muse. Very laid-back, striking, and a complete stunner, the YSL Muse Two did not have to fight the Muse to garner its own attention. YSL has perfected the suede crocodile-stamping, leaving the bag with a new dimension, a chic look, and a more manageable price tag.

And because I love color so much, especially blue and purple, my new obsession is the Yves Saint Laurent Croc Muse Two in a navy and purple colorblock. Um, seriously, I am in love. Yes the colors are bold and bright, possibly a bit over the top, but can you imagine the fun this bag would bring to your wardrobe? The rich hues exude their vibrance. I know that I am constantly telling you about the next bag on my lust list, but this one really has wiggled its way into the top. And I feel like splurging today while at Bal Harbour. I probably shouldn’t, but I have this horrible itch, and this YSL bag is calling my name. I may find a better Muse Two color combination in person, but right now, this bag and its in-your-face colors is the top contender. Buy through Bergdorf Goodman for $1,995.

For a couple years Vlad and I were constantly on the go. Traveling back and forth across the Atlantic often, traveling back and forth from Ohio to Florida, and then everywhere and anywhere else. I actually prefer not traveling so often. I like being in one place, having my suit case in a closet and not permanently on stand-by for the next trip. I am a fan of long weekend getaways. Just packing up the car and heading to a new location, maybe not all that far away, but still feels like it is ‘away’. And for an overnight stay I need a new travel bag. I have professed my love of a large Hermes Travel Bag, like Katie Holmes has been seen carrying, only I really really really want a Crocodile Hac. But those bags are not going to be bought in the foreseeable future, so I must move on. I found my new love. A travel bag that will fill my weekend getaway needs. Read on...

Yves Saint Laurent Tanger Large Tote

Using satin for a handbag can lead to the material snagging, getting dirty, and wearing much quicker than a studier material like leather. But on some bags, satin seems to look so beautiful. YSL bags define their beauty in simplicity. The designs are not ground-breaking, but the designs incorporate the YSL touch on a very wearable piece. One of the many reasons I like the Yves Saint Laurent Tanger Large Tote is because of its usability as a tote. The inside adds a zip pocket and satin lining. The outside brings in the signature “Y” with double top handles and a magnetic snap closure. Dimensions are 14″W X 13″H X 4″D. This is nothing to write home about, not something I would recommend for an everyday bag, but it is a bag that will dress up an outfit and add the perfect gleam as needed. Buy through Saks for $645.

Yves Saint Laurent Small Downtown Tote

We have already covered the YSL Downtown Tote. This style made its way into the YSL lineup when YSL finally came back into the handbag market, having bags that were deemed “it” bags rather than eclectic non-wearable for the masses bags. But there is something that YSL does that so many other designers do, that sometimes I just don’t get; they reinvent a good design again and again and again. Whether it be material, color, size, the designers take a hit bag and try to make a new version that will appeal to a different crowd. Sometimes the result is brilliant, and sometimes it is a big old fail.

So let me ask you what you think of the Yves Saint Laurent Small Downtown Tote which has been reinvented with a blue ombre effect; brilliant or fail? There is no doubt that the smooth suede calfskin leather is sumptuous, the shape is no different, it is just the color effect. This bag also features double handles, two side zips, an inside zip pocket, and suede lining. I am not always a fan of ombre. I have found a few sweaters that can show ombre well but other than that I am just not super fond of it. And on a handbag? There is a way to go about it where it is subtle, not over zealous, and not a sharp change in colors. What do you think? Buy through Saks for $1895.