The Saint Laurent Le 5 à 7 Remains the Timeless, Anti-Trend Bag to Know

Let me take you back for a minute. It’s September 2020, runways are on hold and brands are sharing their new spring/summer 2021 collections online. As you scroll through the images of models in the sharp tailoring, monochromatic shades and considered silhouettes, your cursor stops on the image of a model with a sleek, black bag tucked under her arm. It’s the new Saint Laurent handbag that’s about to take the luxury world by storm.

Five years since its unveiling, the Le 5 à 7, which began as a sleek little shoulder bag, has gone through various reformations, with different shapes, sizes, colours and finishes being added to the line. Now, it’s clear that—in all its forms—the minimalistic silhouette and understated appeal have firmly cemented this bag as a timeless buy.

The Le 5 à 7 is an icon of Anthony Vaccarello’s tenure as Creative Director of Saint Laurent. The original shoulder bag has a polished silhouette, small rectangular form and a single short handle to maintain the sleek shape. Whilst ‘Yves’ was dropped from the brand’s name under Hedi Slimane, the YSL emblem remains key iconography for the brand—a nod to its luxurious heritage—and it take centre stage here, forming the closure of the Le 5 à 7. Quickly, it became the bag to carry. But unlike some It buys that have a fleeting moment in the sun, this bag was designed to stick around.

Saint Laurent is a brand well accustomed to creating renowned handbags. Consider the enduring appeal of the Sac du Jour, the LouLou and the Y bag—names often spotted on the best designer bags of all time lists. The Le 5 à 7 fits effortlessly into this stellar roster.

Designed to be the ultimate evening companion, the original Le 5 à 7 shoulder bag is spacious enough for just the essentials—phone, wallet, keys, lip balm. Its sleek look and elegant appeal quickly made it a bag that fashion people reach for both day or night, however.

The fashion crowd’s fascination with this shoulder bag quickly led the brand to diversify its offerings, introducing different finishes, from patent to raffia, and a range of colourways to suit all preferences. As those continued to take pride of place in handbag collections across the globe, it was clear that the obsession was not set to die down. So, the brand reconfigured the style in line with moving trends. Straps were elongated, interiors expanded, and the Le 5 à 7 became far more than a single iconic bag—now it’s a family of similarly luxurious designs under one name.

The classic, of course, remains a go-to buy, spotted frequently on the arms of celebrities and fashion followers alike. Naturally, a smaller version came along, more playful in its minute form, for those who are after an even more streamlined look for their essentials. The newer, roomier Supple version adds extra depth to the bag, and as the name suggests, a more relaxed look and feel, making it the perfect style to enjoy every day. Within the Supple collection, there are three sizing options, too—a large, small and baby (too cute). The Bea is a wider tote, which still has the identifiable pared-back design and YSL closure, but allows a lot more space for your belongings—perfectly suited to carrying your laptop to and from work, your children’s bits and bobs or all those travel essentials as hand luggage. Finally, the Boho has a more laid-back feel, with a longer strap and a bucket shape, ready to be filled with your day-to-day wares and plenty more.