Every fashion house dreams of attaining the “it” classification for a handbag they produce but few ever attain such heady heights. The Hermès Birkin, Chanel 2.55 flap bag, Lady Dior, and Prada Galleria are all prime examples of bags that have reached the hall of fame. Bottega Veneta achieved it more recently with its Padded Cassette, as did Celine with its Luggage Tote. But, as you’ve probably noticed, very few utility bags ever claim an “it” status.
Goyard did it of course with its radical, unlined, reversible Saint Louis tote that actually dates back to the 1930s. But now Saint Laurent has gone and done it, and with a compellingly quiet luxury style in the form of its brand-new Bea bag. The highly contemporary, 3,150 USD Bea comes in a full-grain textured deerskin that’s buttery soft to touch, an aspect that’s underscored by a slouchy silhouette featuring only a minimal structure. And, unsurprisingly, given that it was designed by the maison’s monochromatic-loving Creative Director, Anthony Vaccarello, it comes in just one colour – black, replete with just a single Cassandre logo to define its origins (and function as a clasp).
Inside, there’s a tonal suede lining a big main compartment with an internal zippered pocket. There are also lace-up strings in there that you can pull to fold in the sides of the bag, allowing the Bea to shift shapes. Finally, its dimensions of 50cm in length may seem large to some, we love its generous size, as it can hold everything we’d ever need for the daily commute or a long-haul flight. No wonder it’s already a cult it-bag.
