To paraphrase a cheesy old pickup line, do you believe in love at first sight, or does the Yves Saint Laurent Vanity Bowler need to walk by again?
For me, the bag had to walk by a second time, but after a that I had no more doubts. The shape is unexpected, the color is a touch lighter than the military trend generally dictates and the bag looks just different enough to make it stand out without all of that needy attention-seeking that tends to come from accessory designers with less finesse than the fine folks at Yves Saint Laurent.
New Minimalism can be tough for women who actually need a functional everyday bag because it generally dictates smaller proportions and fewer pockets, but this bag demonstrates that stylish women don’t have to make such sacrifices if they don’t want to. The design has clean lines and minimal unnecessary adornment beyond the normal YSL clochette, but it also attaches some gusset pockets to do the unglamourous task of organizing your keys and cell phone. If you want to participate in several of fall’s trends without looking like a fashion victim, this bag is among your very best options. Buy through Bergdorf Goodman for $1795.
