The Saint Laurent Bags Worth Buying

The Le 5 à 7 is the bag to buy first. It is a soft half-moon hobo with a single shoulder strap and a slim chain detail, and the supple leather version moulds to your body rather than holding a rigid box shape. Sizing matters here. The small (around £1,930 to £1,995) is the everyday option and the one most people should start with, while the large (£2,235) takes a tablet and a slim wallet for work. The Bea variants in smooth or suede push higher, up to £2,800, and the suede in particular is a softer, more seasonal pick that needs a bit more care. The wider hobo family follows the same logic. The Sade and Icare are roomier slouch shapes if you carry more, the Niki adds quilted texture and a chain, and the Jamie 4.3 is the bigger statement piece with the boldest quilting. If you want one daily workhorse with no fuss, take the small Le 5 à 7 in smooth black calfskin.

This is the Saint Laurent code most people picture: diamond matelassé quilting, the gold or aged-brass YSL Cassandre on the front, and a chain you can wear on the shoulder or doubled as a crossbody. The Cassandre matelassé chain wallet (£1,200 to £1,415) is the smartest entry into the house. It is small, it goes from desk to dinner, and the chain tucks inside if you want a flat clutch. The Loulou Toy and Mini College are the next step up in size, both quilted, both with that soft puffy hand-feel, and the Toy in particular is a neat little crossbody for evenings. The Gloria and Logo Plaque chain wallets give you the same quilted look at slightly different price points. A note on value: if you only want one quilted Saint Laurent, the matelassé chain wallet does more daily work than the larger Loulou for most people, and it costs less.

If you want a bag that stands up on its own and holds shape, this is the group to look at. The Sac de Jour is the house workhorse: a structured tote with top handles, a shoulder strap and the accordion sides that give it real capacity, and the Box Bauletto version here (£2,530) is the rounded bowling shape that reads a touch softer. The Solferino (£2,400) is the polished day-to-evening bag with a covered clasp and a clean front, arguably the most grown-up shape Saint Laurent makes. The Envelope satchels carry the chain-and-flap look in a more defined body, and the Calypso adds a top handle with a relaxed drape. The Y Top-Handle Bucket is the leftfield pick if you like a bucket silhouette with structure. For a first structured buy, the Solferino in small is the one that flatters most outfits.

Two ends of the range live here: the small pieces you reach for when you are travelling light, and the totes you carry when you need everything. On the small side, the Cassandra wallet shoulder bag and the Midnight clutch are the dressed-up evening options, while the Uptown clutch and pouch (£580) are the affordable way into the house with the matelassé look. The Gaby vanity is a rounded little box bag with personality. On the larger side, the Niki shopping tote, the Celia tote, the Panier and the Cassandre crochet tote are the open carriers for work, weekends and travel, with the crochet version (£1,395) a lighter, summer-leaning pick. If budget is the deciding factor, the Uptown pouch and the matelassé bi-fold wallet are the genuine entry points, and they still carry the Cassandre hardware that makes the brand recognisable.