There are certain sartorial advantages to being female. Not only do we get the broader selection of styles, colors and prints to choose from in women’s clothing, but we can borrow from the boys at will. If we do, we’re just being edgy and androgynous, and no one accuses us of not “acting our gender” simply for having the temerity to like a men’s bag. Being female makes our lives harder in some ways, but that’s not one of them. What of the men who like women’s bags, though?

Some of you know that I got my start with PurseBlog as a moderator at PurseForum way back when I was still in college, and back then, it always surprised me that you’d occasionally see people insulting male posters for carrying a women’s bag. American men generally don’t break those kinds of taboos easily, and if that’s what a guy wants to carry, why would it bother anyone else? Especially enough to purposefully hurt the feelings of a stranger? (Some of you who spend a lot of time on the Internet are laughing at this right now, because comment sections! That’s all they’re for!) I hoping that perhaps some people’s minds have opened a bit since then, but you never know.

In the intervening years, a few things have changed. Not only have men’s bags become much more mainstream and luxurious, but “new minimalism” means that a lot of women’s bags have a more androgynous feel as well. If a guy, gay or straight, is fashion-conscious, I can see how he might be tempted to wade into the shallow waters of big, neutral handbags like the black Saint Laurent Sac Du Jour above. Hedi Slimane’s aesthetic is kind of unisex to begin with, and that bag is simple enough to look at home in a variety of hands. (Even if it is a Birkin ripoff.)

So dudes, weigh in – if you saw a women’s bag you liked, would you make it yours? And if you wouldn’t, is it because you’re nervous about what people might think? Pick up that Saint Laurent bag for $2,950 via Net-a-Porter.

The post Man Bag Monday: Would You Carry A Women’s Bag? appeared first on PurseBlog.

If you already hate Hedi Slimane’s Saint Laurent bags, get ready to have another rage blackout!

We got on Hedi’s case a few months ago for the Birkin-aping Sac Du Jour, and for Fall 2013, Slimane is back with some more bags that are not-so-loosely based on handbag history. This time, it’s the Saint Laurent Cassandre Bags, which may or may not cause visions of vintage Chanel totes to dance in your head. In particular, the bags might remind you of the celeb-favorite Chanel Caviar Jumbo XL Weekender Tote, which is a highly sought vintage piece that has the same partially-chain double handles and flip-over logo closure as the Saint Laurent Cassandre Shoppers, both quilted and non. (And, it must be said, quilting has never made anything look less Chanel. It’s not a design feature you add if you’re trying to distance yourself from Chanel’s aesthetic.)

The line also boasts a shoulder bag with a flap top and logo closure, this one with the same diagonal quilts as the beige shopper. The design clearly mines the same 80s material that Chanel has taken to referencing recently, except that the material was, you know, actually created by Chanel back in the 80s. Rummaging through your own archive is quite different from rummaging through that of another brand.

That’s not to say that these bags are unattractive, of course. They’re attractive for the same reason that the original bags are getting a second look from both luxury vintage shoppers and Chanel’s accessory department alike: they reference a very specific period of time in fashion that’s very trendy among nostalgia-seekers at the moment. If I were you, though, I’d keep a lookout for the Chanel version, either secondhand or referenced in a new bag.

Saint Laurent Matelasse Chain Strap Shoulder Bag
$2,290 via Neiman Marcus

Saint Laurent Cassandre Chain Strap Shopper
$2,350 via Neiman Marcus

Saint Laurent Cassandre Matelasse Chain Strap Shopper
$2,550 via Neiman Marcus

The post Saint Laurent Takes It Back to the 80s for Fall appeared first on PurseBlog.

Despite the fact that Saint Laurent bags confuse me at times, I’m actually a huge fan of the smaller versions of the brand’s duffel bags; they’re adorable, and compared to the slightly larger options, the price point is pretty good. I’d carry one in a heartbeat. Or, rather, I’d carry one in almost any non-metallic leather. When it comes to the Saint Laurent Metallic Toy Duffel, I’m not quite convinced.

In general, I don’t shy away from traditional metallics. I probably have more silver shoes in my closet than I have black and tan combined, and one of my favorite bags I’ve ever owned was a metallic pewter Balenciaga from 2005. In fact, Balenciaga did a lot of metallics, both neutral and not, during that era, and they’re largely quite sought-after to this day. When I laid eyes on this version of tiniest Saint Laurent duffel, I was immediately transported back to that era. The neutral metallics, like gold and silver, did that in a good way. The colorful metallics, on the other hand, were not quite as positive.

It’s extremely difficult to pull off a finish like this in blue or pink without it looking cheap, and in fact, part of the point of the bag is to reference the electro-punk look that is one of Hedi Slimane’s influences. In that regard, the bag succeeds in spades, but I’m not sure that the final product looks particularly expensive. Whether or not it needs to is up to consumers, I suppose. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $1,390.

The post Love It or Leave It: Non-Neutral Metallics appeared first on PurseBlog.

Pretty Little Liars actress Ashley Benson was recently spotted leaving La Conversation Cafe in West Hollywood with an unidentified pooch companion. If her bag is giving you a little deja vu, you’re not alone – that’s the Saint Laurent Sac Du Jour Bag, and yes, it’s very much like a Saint Laurent Birkin. Even so, it’s a very attractive bag, IMO, and wonderfully minimalistic. Also, it’s about $7,000 less than your basic Birkin, which is always a plus. You can pick it up for $2950 at Net-A-Porter.

My high school French is a little rusty, but doesn’t “Sac Du Jour” translate to “bag of the day?” That’s quite an amusing name to bestow on such a luxe, nearly $3,000 Saint Laurent bag. I like that Hedi Slimane clearly has a sense of humor. For celebs like Ashley Benson (and countless others, of course), the title is probably quite literal.

The post Ashley Benson Strolls with Her Pup and Her Saint Laurent Bag appeared first on PurseBlog.

Just like the rest of Hedi Slimane’s runway collections, Saint Laurent’s runway bags tend to inspire both irritation and buying frenzies in fashion watchers. The man has a unique talent for creating strong opinions and for moving product, and the Saint Laurent Studded Minaudiere is the latest bag from the brand that is likely to do both. It’s straight off the catwalk, after all, and that always makes a product particularly intoxicating to a brand’s most ardent fans. Is this little clutch’s magic working on you?

As has been the case with many of Saint Laurent’s bags, my answer is, “not really.” Slimane has gotten close to potential bag magic several times in his short tenure with the brand, and although he’s hit paydirt with shoes several times, the bags aren’t quite there yet. There’s nothing wrong with this little clutch; it’s a perfectly adorable, slightly grunge-y take on an old-school luxury shape, which has become something of a calling card for the brand under Slimane. I simply wish the bag found a way to go a bit further, to feel a little bit more special. If the top was capped with a smooth silver plate, perhaps. For me, it’s that one more detail that’s usually missing from Saint Laurent’s bags, and Hedi will likely make it over the edge in the near future.

What about you? Would you consider this bag a viable alternative to your favorite night-out clutch? If so, pick it up through Neiman Marcus for $2,890. (Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the price…)

The post Love It or Leave It: Saint Laurent Studded Minaudiere appeared first on PurseBlog.

Fox Sports football personality Erin Andrews was recently spotted heading from LAX to JFK for the impending Super Bowl festivities. As you can see, she’s overloaded with not just a Celine Luggage Tote, but also a Saint Laurent Sac de Jour Tote, which means her airport handbag game is about as tight as it gets. (Also, sports personality ladies, we clearly haven’t been paying you enough attention. Lesson learned.) You can get Erin’s exact “Bordeaux” Saint Laurent bag for $2,950 at Nordstrom.

I’ve never been one to pretend to have sentiments about the Super Bowl, and I certainly won’t start now, but I will say, in a head-to-head Celine Luggage Tote vs. Saint Laurent Sac de Jour Tote smackdown, I’m kind of feeling the Sac de Jour. Probably because the Celine Luggage Tote would be the team that ALWAYS goes to the Super Bowl in this metaphor, and the Sac de Jour clearly represents the scrappy underdog.

The post Erin Andrews Heads to the Super Bowl with Both Celine and Saint Laurent Bags appeared first on PurseBlog.

Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and a significant portion (if not all) of their brood were seen departing LAX earlier this week after returning from a lengthy family trip to Australia. Angie is carrying a black Saint Laurent Sac de Jour Suede Tote. Saint Laurent has dressed Angelina for several red carpets since Hedi Slimane took the reigns of the brand, so it’s not surprising that they sent a few new bags her way. You can find a black leather version of Angie’s bag for $2,950 at Nordstrom.

Angie’s bag selections have been pretty top-notch as of late. We saw her with a beautiful Louis Vuitton Capucines Bag just a few months ago. Unlike other celebs we feature more frequently on PB, Angie seems to pick a bag (a pretty high-end bag, natch) and stick with it for a while, rather than debuting a new (presumably free) bag every week and retiring it the next. I’m looking at you, Jessica Alba/Reese Witherspoon/Miranda Kerr.

The post Angelina Jolie Travels with Saint Laurent appeared first on PurseBlog.

Supreme bagmaster Jessica Alba was recently spotted en route to Paris Fashion Week via LAX, carrying a bright red Saint Laurent Sac de Jour Bag. She’s also wearing a pair of black leather Jenni Kayne d’Orsay flats. You can find Jessica’s exact “rouge” Sac at Nordstrom for $2,950. While we rarely see her carry the same handbag twice here on PB, we know for a fact that Jessica swears by her Jenni Kaynes. You can currently find a pair of black Jenni Kayne flats on sale at Saks for $418 (down from $595).

When it comes to the sort of handbag-centric celeb pics we specialize in here at PB, Jessica is one of our most premium suppliers. Her handbag stash is almost as vast and varied as her selection of acting roles over the course of the last two decades. You can peruse the majority of her ever-expanding collection in “The Many Bags of Jessica Alba” and “The Many Bags of Jessica Alba, Part Two.” We’ll continue to bring you coverage of Jessica’s by-the-minute handbag acquisitions, right here on PurseBlog.

The post Jessica Alba Travels with a Saint Laurent Bag appeared first on PurseBlog.

Bag: Saint Laurent Sac De Jour Small Tote

Price: $2,550 via Net-A-Porter

Why it’s the Bag of the Week: Saint Laurent may have dropped the Yves, but its handbags stayed front and center with the Saint Laurent Sac De Jour Bag. This bag quickly turned into a modern classic that’s is both easily recognizable but and stands out for its beautiful design and fashion-forward touches. I continue to see this bag on some of the most stylish ladies around, and trust me, it’s not going out of style anytime soon.

The post Bag of the Week: Saint Laurent Sac De Jour Small Tote appeared first on PurseBlog.

The Saint Laurent Sac de Jour seems to be having a bag moment. Here’s Kylie Minogue, arriving at the Charlotte Street Hotel in London, carrying a black, polished calfskin Saint Laurent Sac de Jour. The Sac is a bag that always brings out a lot of strong sentiments from both Sac lovers and Sac haters – which I find a tad strange, because this design seems pretty innocuous to me. (And yes, I see the Hermes similarities.) You can obtain a Sac for $2,550 at Nordstrom.

As you might’ve gathered from our other Sac de Jour-related posts, opinions on this bag here at Camp PurseBlog are strongly divided. Megs loves it (and recently appointed it her “Bag of the Week”), Amanda hates it, and I stand firmly on neutral territory. I mainly just wish this bag was called literally anything else, so I could stop referring to it as the Sac. Celebs who endorse the Sac (UGH) to date include Jessica Alba, Angelina Jolie and Ashley Benson.

The post Kylie Minogue Carries Saint Laurent in London appeared first on PurseBlog.

There’s perhaps no more controversial brand in fashion right now than Saint Laurent. Since Hedi Slimane took the reigns three seasons ago, the company’s look has gone from conservatively luxurious to all-out rock-n-roll excess, with plenty of detractors and proponents alike. Although I like Saint Laurent shoes, the company’s bags have always felt a little bit off to me, even on their best days, but I can finally say that I’ve found one I love without reservation: this black-on-black version of the Saint Laurent Betty Bag.

The Betty, along with the Classic Duffel, have always been my favorites among Saint Laurent’s accessories offerings, but I had yet to see a version of either that really tickled my fancy. I’m always a total sucker for black hardware, and the black-on-black look of this bag both fits my preferences and Saint Laurent’s luxe-punk aesthetic perfectly. Slimane is talented, despite being something of a personality, and this kind of bag is exactly the direction I had hoped he would go with the line. Here’s hoping that more like this is on its way. Buy for $2,100 via MATCHESFASHION.COM.

Late last week, word broken that more than $100,000 worth of clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories had been swiped from Saint Laurent’s Chicago boutique in a brazen smash-and-grab robbery in the middle of the night, and now we’ve received an interesting note from a tipster: a Saint Laurent Crocodile Sac de Jour Bag, priced at over $29,000, was among the loot missing from the store when the cops arrived.

Several stories from the Chicago local news allude to a one-of-a-kind handbag among the stolen goods, and for a brand like Saint Laurent, “one-of-a-kind” all but assures you that the piece is made out of some kind of exotic material. Our tipster, who works nearby, told us that the bag is a croc Sac de Jour, and indeed, one such bag can be found on Instagram under the hashtag #saintlaurentchicago, captured by user jacobjlahr. A brand’s largest flagship boutiques usually have a couple special products to tempt their highest-value customers and dazzle all the others, and this bag was likely among them.

There’s no word yet on possible suspects for the robbery, but it’s part of what appears to be a rising tide of crime at luxury boutiques, which house plenty of high-dollar merchandise that’s easy to resell and often lack more than cursory security measures. At this point, the only real question is where thieves will strike next.

If you’d like to acquire some Saint Laurent without threat of a jail sentence, we’d recommend MATCHESFASHION.COM.

Here’s Reese Witherspoon, looking particularly Reese Witherspoon-esque while shopping on Montana Boulevard in LA. She’s carrying a petite, black Saint Laurent Micro Sac de Jour Bag, and those gorgeous fuchsia suede sandals aren’t bad either. (If you know who made them, let us know in the comments.) You can find Reese’s bag at Nordstrom for the not-so-petite price of $1,995. (If you need a little more room than a Micro provides, the “Small” Sac de Jour starts at $2,550.)

At the rate Reese goes, I feel like we could write a new “Many Bags” about her every three months. It seems she buys bags at the same clip many of us buy lattes. In any case, a third and possibly fourth edition are certainly already warranted. If you need to catch up, check out “The Many Bags of Reese Witherspoon” and “The Many Bags of Reese Witherspoon, Part 2.”

Here’s the endlessly chic Rosie Huntington-Whiteley arriving at LAX, carrying a black Saint Laurent Sac de Jour Tote. In case you’ve forgotten, Rosie is a model and an actress, but everyone here probably just recognizes her from appearing in pics just like these and dressing impeccably, all of the time. (If this job has taught me anything, it’s that you absolutely can make a career out of that, somehow.) You can get Rosie’s exact Sac de Jour for $2,950 at Nordstrom.

I have no idea what Rosie’s last gig was (unless she got paid to go to Coachella, like everyone else), but I suspect that as long as she allows herself to be photographed in public, designer freebies will continue to magically appear on her doorstep. To that effect, Rosie has a suitably gorgeous collection of designer handbags, which you can peruse in “The Many Bags of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.” Also, stay tuned, because a follow-up edition of Rosie’s “Many Bags” seems inevitable.

Jessica Simpson and her forever fiance Eric Johnson flew in to Washington, D.C. together over the weekend so they could attend the White House Correspondents Dinner. (Why they made the guest list is anyone’s guess.) Jessica is seen here carrying an Yves Saint Laurent Roady Bag at the D.C. airport. The bag is, of course, from several years ago, before Hedi Slimane took the reigns at YSL and promptly dropped “Yves” from the brand’s name, and it’s been unavailable for some time. You can shop a broad selection of recent Saint Laurent handbags, shoes, and apparel at MATCHESFASHION.COM.

Jessica’s Roady has certainly held up well over the years. It seems to be exactly the kind of bag I always picture Jessica Simpson carrying – an oversized hobo or satchel. Sometimes she goes for something with sparkle, and other times she reaches for a little leopard print. If it’s pricey and gargantuan, it’s definitely within Jessica Simpson’s designer handbag wheelhouse. You can see exactly what I mean if you check out “The Many Bags of Jessica Simpson.”

Here’s Jessica Simpson, arriving back in LA after a few days in NYC, carrying a Saint Laurent Studded Sac de Jour Bag and wearing a pair of what seem to be her favorite shoes – the Saint Laurent Janis Pumps. She’s tied it all together with what appears to be an extremely fashionable sweatsuit, of sorts, which looks pretty ideal for air travel. You can find Jessica’s Saint Laurent bag for $3,950 at Bergdorf Goodman, and her Saint Laurent shoes are available for $775 at Barneys.

We’ve seen Jessica wearing different Janis pumps several times before, and this isn’t even the first time we’ve seen her wearing them at an airport. The woman loves Janis pumps, and they do seem particularly on-brand for her look. Jessica also owns a modest assortment of Saint Laurent handbags, of course, which you can view in “The Many Bags of Jessica Simpson.” Jessica Simpson’s handbag collection is (unsurprisingly) very Jessica Simpson.

Here’s Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, arriving at LAX looking as supermodel-perfect as she always does. Like most gorgeous celebs, Rosie spends an absurd amount of time navigating her way through throngs of paps and autograph-seekers in airports all over the world. Her bag du jour is in fact, a dark green Saint Laurent Sac du Jour. You can find a bag like Rosie’s in a pleasing earthy brown shade for $2,750 at Nordstrom.

Rosie is especially fond of the Saint Laurent Sac du Jour; she also owns one in black. Saint Laurent and Givenchy seem to be the brands she’s favoring pretty exclusively as of late, we just saw her carrying a beautiful Givenchy Ayers-Trimmed Antigona Bag earlier this month. You can marvel at all of Rosie’s high end handbag acquisitions and her many extremely glamorous airport looks in “The Many Bags of Rosie-Huntington Whiteley.”

Here’s a blue-haired Nicole Richie, making the press rounds in NYC for her new reality show Candidly Nicole. (Yes, Nicole Richie is returning to reality television, for reasons I don’t completely understand.) She’s carrying the largest size of the Saint Laurent Sac de Jour Tote, which is definitely its most Birkin-esque variation. Nicole’s bag is currently available for $2,950 at Barneys.

Ever since her departure from the reality TV show The Simple Life (which first aired over a decade ago), Nicole has worked to redeem herself for her vapid, Juicy Couture tracksuit-wearing reality TV persona by rebranding herself as a celeb style maven and fashion designer. I doubt a new reality show could possibly undermine all that, but only time will tell. In the meantime, you can peruse all of Nicole’s luxe handbag picks in “The Many Bags of Nicole Richie.”

There was a lot of debate when I named the Saint Laurent Sac Du Jour as the bag of the week back in March. While Amanda and I differ on how much we like the Sac Du Jour, we have been on the same page about our admiration for the Fendi 2Jours all along.

Both of these bags continue to garner attention in the accessory world, and both are on my wish list as bags I love. I’m majorly feeling the mini bag trend, and both of these bags come in a pint-sized version.

Today, I’m turning to you to see which of these bags wins in a bag battle, the Fendi Petit 2Jours or the Saint Laurent Micro Sac Du Jour.

Both bags are pretty in pink and both are similar in size, with long crossbody straps. Both designs are very recognizable by now, and the prices are similar, with each bag coming in under $2000. (The Saint Laurent bag is $240 more than the Fendi.) Both bags are celeb magnets, however lately the Sac Du Jour has been the bag of choice for Nicole Richie, Rosie Huntington Whitley, Jessica Simpson and Reese Witherspoon.

Vote in our poll and tell me which of the bags you prefer, plus leave a comment below! Buy the Fendi bag for $1,750 and the Saint Laurent Bag for $1,990, both via Nordstrom.

Saint Laurent Sac de Jour Micro Tote
$1,990 via Nordstrom

Fendi Petit 2Jours Elite Leather Shopper
$1,750 via Nordstrom

She’s already been photographed carrying (“carrying”) Chanel in CR Fashion Book, and with parents like Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, it was clearly only a matter of time until little North West started carrying bags of her own, even if she still lacks the manual dexterity necessary to actually grasp them in her adorably chubby little toddler hands. Luckily, this Saint Laurent Monogramme Shoulder Bag can be draped across her tiny body.

When I saw this photo earlier this week, my first thought was that Kim and Kanye are expertly trolling us, but my second thought was that this bag must be a custom piece–it’s so tiny that it actually looks appropriately sized on a human born in 2013, and the Kardashian-Wests are a family who could easily command such a thing for their baby. After a quick search, though, it appears that this bag is a regular production piece intended for regular-size adult women.

At nine centimeters wide, the bag is noticeably too small to hold an iPhone 5, even without a case–there’s no hope of jamming it in there. I’m not sure exactly what Hedi Slimane expects you to do with your phone, unless he thinks we all have handlers following us to carry our plebeian personal belongings while we swan around New York City. Luckily for North, she doesn’t have an iPhone. Yet. That I know of. (I bet she has an iPad.)

If you want to get Nori’s look and don’t mind putting your phone in your back pocket (watch out when you’re pulling up your pants in the bathroom–I know several phones that have died that way), this little bag can be yours for the low, low price of $1,450 via LUISAVIAROMA.