The Newly Rebranded Saint Laurent Lands, and It’s Fabulous

Thursday, January 17, 2013

The first collection from Saint Laurent (aka, the label formerly known as Yves Saint Laurent) landed in stores this week, and I’m suitably impressed by the subtle shift in perspective brought about by the name change. When news broke that the storied house was planning a name change, the ostensible reason was to create a fresh, modern feel under new Creative Director Hedi Slimane. Mission accomplished.


Handbag, shoe, accessory, and ready-to-wear options from Saint Laurent are now available across the web’s best retailers. The overall look that I’m seeing pared-back, refined elegance with downtown edge. Simple handbags shapes embossed with a barely perceptible Saint Laurent logo are real standouts, as are luxe separates and chunky jewelry with a rock and roll vibe. Check out some of my favorite new pieces:


My must-have so far is this Black Leather Flat Tote. It’s deceptively simple in design, with clean lines that are just begging to be paired with the downtown uniform of skinny black pants, slouchy sweater, and bootie pumps.

Saint Laurent Black Leather Flat Tote


→ Buy the Saint Laurent Black Leather Flat Tote, $2,350.00, at ssense.com.


This super luxurious take on the closet-staple black tee shirt is perfection. Slimane crafted this slim top from fine-knit merino wool that is an appropriate weight for warm weather. It hangs perfectly.

Saint Laurent Fine Knit Merino Wool Top


→ Buy the Saint Laurent Fine Knit Merino Wool Top, $650.00, at net-a-porter.com; shipping is free.


This snake-textured cuff is gorgeous. I can’t even begin to justify spending nearly $1000 on a “goldtone” cuff, but it is quite nice to look at. The intricate twisting of the lines and the texture throughout give it a glamorous vibe.

Saint Laurent Gold Snake Textured Cuff


→ Buy the Saint Laurent Gold Snake Textured Cuff, $995.00, at ssense.com.


Of course, there had to be a tuxedo jacket. It’s all old-school YSL, but with a modern twist – the shawl collar has barely-there silver studs down the side!

Saint Laurent Studded Gabardine Tuxedo Jacket


→ Buy the Saint Laurent Studded Gabardine Tuxedo Jacket, $2,890.00, at bergdorfgoodman.com.


Let’s round out this little best of round-up with a visit to the shoe department. Many of the “new” shoes are really just new shades of the popular Tribute and Tribtoo shapes. But, this Exaggerated-Heel shoe it a little bit of something new and different. It would look great with a simple LBD.

Saint Laurent Metallic Exaggerated Heel Pump


→ Buy the Saint Laurent Metallic Exaggerated Heel Pump, $695.00, at bergdorfgoodman.com.


You can see more from Saint Laurent at SSENSE, Bergdorf Goodman, and Net-a-Porter.