Understated, spacious, and endlessly practical, the tote is the quiet workhorse of the bag world. It may not command attention like a jeweled mini or give off a street-style vibe like a slouchy shoulder bag, but it wins whenever it comes to real-life utility. And lately, I’ve found myself reaching for one tote in particular.
A Tote That Just Works
We have visited the Saint Laurent Y Tote a few times, first when it was introduced and spotted on celebs, and then when Kaitlin received a sample to photograph and review. Now, it’s my turn to take a spin with the light, practical bag after I was sent one myself.
My three-word review: I love her!
Of course, this bag is a her; she is a workhorse that is equal parts on top of all things pragmatic while remaining chic and cool. She’s who I want to be; she gets things done and does it stylishly. She is confident, she is sturdy, she is light, she is cool, and she smells divine.
The Magic Is in the Materials
So what makes this tote all of these things? It starts off with simplicity. The Saint Laurent Y Tote is relatively straightforward. As my bag journey has continued for 20 years, I always return to the material. If the leather is supple to the touch and smells good (you know, a new car smell but for bags!), I am immediately drawn in.
This bag is crafted from fine-grained leather with a fully lined tonal suede interior, and the combination is dreamy. While a bag this size can be hefty, especially with suede lining, Saint Laurent perfected this combination to be light, making it a great daily hauler or travel companion.
Design That Balances Style and Subtlety
In a time when many brands lean into branding, this bag subtly makes the Y stitched signature shine in a way that is easily recognizable but also low-key. This element is a nod to the house’s archives, and a small embossed logo is at the center and bottom of the bag.
The Y logo transforms into the shoulder straps, which are not adjustable, but fit nicely on my arm. The divet from the Y allows the bag to sit snugly and safely under my arm with a 10.2″ drop.
Spacious, Functional, and Travel-Ready
Inside, you will find an entirely open, roomy interior and a sizeable inner zip pocket. While the bag does not offer a zip closure, a hook closure holds your contents together. As a huge proponent of pouches, I love a tote with a big opening to toss in all of my additional pouches, which keeps it organized and practical.
Verdict: Worth the Splurge?
As many of us are on the move for summer trips, having a bag that can hold every necessity while looking stylish is hard to find, but this bag does the trick. If you are set on a bag with a zip top, this isn’t for you, but if you love a spacious, open top bag that does offer a clasp closure along with every bit of luxury touch, you may love this bag as much as I do.
Purchase via Saint Laurent for $3,600.
More Iterations of the Y Tote
One of the few YSL bags that I like.
I love this bag and that they keep coming out with new iterations of it!
Why is raffia more expensive than leather?
If you zoom on that version, you’ll see a weaving pattern that is far more intricate than most raffia bags – but what I will say is the site should mention that and call it out. It’s hard to know every detail without them being upfront and sharing, and otherwise, it seems silly that raffia costs that much more than leather, I agree!
The leather certainly looks super soft! I do like the bag, too much bag for my needs however. If you carry a lot with on the regular I can see how this bag would be appealing.
I don’t use it every single day – but when I need to haul more, I adore this bag!!