About the Saint Laurent Manhattan Bag
Introduced to the Saint Laurent family by creative director Anthony Vaccarello as part of its Spring/Summer 2019 collection, the YSL Manhattan bag is a sophisticated carryall. The satchel features strong lines that live up to its New York namesake borough, while its understated hardware is the height of luxury.
Although Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) changed its official name to Saint Laurent in 2012, the brand continues to use the YSL name for cosmetics and accessories in its ready-to-wear collections like shoes and bags, including the Manhattan bag. For this reason, you may find it listed as both the Saint Laurent Manhattan as well as the YSL Manhattan.
Design and Features of the Saint Laurent Manhattan Bag
With sleek lines and refined accents, the YSL Manhattan has a vintage feel though still being entirely suited to our modern world. The bag has a strong structure but isn’t overly rigid. Although the House emblazons many of its handbags with the distinctive monogram, the Manhattan, instead, has a magnetic clip buckle fastening with “Saint Laurent Paris” engraved in small, subtle letters.
A belt-like compression strap surrounds the bag, cinching the gusseted sides shut when the clasp is closed. Most of the Manhattan styles have metal feet on the bottom, helping to protect the leather from scratching. Most YSL Manhattan bags include the following elements:
- Compression tabs on the sides
- Magnetic clip buckle fastening
- Grosgrain lining
- Five protective metal feet on the bottom (except on shoulder bag and pouch)
The YSL Manhattan comes in several sizes, colors and materials, with a version to suit any taste and need. The brand initially released it as a top handle though later, it added shoulder straps for additional versatility. Each of the six sizes and styles are surprisingly spacious due to the side gussets that allow for accordion-style expansion. The dimensions for each bag are as follows:
- YSL Manhattan Shoulder Bag: 11.4” x 7.8” x 2.9”
- YSL Manhattan Small Shopping Bag: 12.5” x 9.8” x 4.7”
- YSL Manhattan Medium Shopping Bag: 15.7” x 11.6” x 6.1”
- YSL Manhattan Large Shopping Bag: 19.4” x 13.9” x 7”
- YSL Manhattan Nano: 8.2” x 6.25” x 3.5”
- YSL Manhattan Pouch: 9.4” x 6.2” x 1.9”
Unlike the other versions, the Manhattan shoulder bag has a small flap closure that tucks under the compression belt. Inside, there is a single main compartment with a slip pocket. Its leather strap has pin-buckle hardware that you can adjust from an 11.5- to 14” drop.
The Manhattan shopping bags all have the same shape: An open top with a cinched-belt closure with the main compartment, one zip pocket and one flat pocket. The small has a detachable, adjustable long shoulder strap with a 19” drop, plus a top handle strap with a 4” drop. The medium and large shopping bags only have top handles with 7” and 8” drops, respectively. With a similar structure, the Manhattan Nano has a removable crossbody strap with an adjustable 20.5- to 21.5” drop and a top handle with a 3” drop. Inside, it has a main compartment with a flat pocket.
With an overall silhouette similar to the rest of the Manhattan line, the YSL Manhattan Pouch has a few key differences. The leather-lined main compartment features a zipper closure in addition to the standard compression tabs with a clip buckle fastening. Inside, there’s one gusseted pocket. The chain and leather crossbody strap have a 17” drop and are detachable, so you can also carry it as a clutch.
Materials and Craftsmanship of the Saint Laurent Manhattan Bag
Saint Laurent makes all of their handbags in Italy, hiring expert artisans and working with only the highest quality materials. In the case of the Manhattan bags, collectors will most often find them made from smooth calfskin leather. Other materials include leather-trimmed canvas and ostrich leather. In addition to the smooth finish, the leather also comes in metallic, soft nubuck and crocodile-embossed. Color options are mostly neutral black, cream, and deep burgundy, though the bag's seasonal releases have also come in green, bright red, silver and more. The Manhattan’s metal hardware for the clasps and chain can come toned in bronze, silver or gold.
The Saint Laurent Manhattan Bag’s Value and Collectibility
As one of the world’s most distinguished fashion houses, Saint Laurent is known for creating handbags that hold their value over time. The Manhattan’s timeless quality makes it a solid choice for a collector looking to acquire a continually functional and valuable piece. In early 2021, pre-loved YSL Manhattan bags fetch, on average, more than $1,200 on the resale market.