Every handbag lover dreams of owning a Saint Laurent bag. The legendary French fashion house has undergone a revival in recent years. Its popularity once again rivals that of Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel.
Saint Laurent blends its Parisian DNA with minimalistic silhouettes and neutral color palettes that have won it a die-hard following amongst A-List celebrities and fashion influencers.
Celebrity Elegance: Sofia Vergara, Jenna Johnson, and Hailey Bieber flaunt their Saint Laurent bags (Credit: BauerGriffin / INSTARimages / Cover Images)
The Challenge of Authenticity: Navigating the World of Saint Laurent Resale
Not everyone can buy a Saint Laurent bag directly from the store. You might be hunting for an older style or buying pre-loved as a more affordable option. Spotting a fake Saint Laurent bag isn’t always easy.
The rise of ‘super fakes’ and sites like DHGate makes it harder to tell fake Saint Laurent bags from the real deal. We’re sharing everything you need to know about buying Saint Laurent bags on the resale market and how to avoid fake YSL bags.
Defining Luxury: The Evolution of Saint Laurent
Saint Laurent is a luxury French fashion house famous for its handbags. Formerly known as ‘Yves Saint Laurent’ or ‘YSL,’ Saint Laurent has recently had a facelift to make it more contemporary.
Authorized retailers are stores authorized by Saint Laurent to sell their products and are likely to have trained staff who can help you authenticate a bag (Credit: Sorbis / Shutterstock)
Saint Laurent is a popular choice for those looking to buy their first designer bag. The brand offers a variety of price points, from around $675 for a clutch to $7,100 for a limited-edition ostrich skin bag.
A Spectrum of Elegance: The Pricing of Saint Laurent Handbags
One reason why Saint Laurent bags are popular is because of their varying price points. The cheapest Saint Laurent bag is the patent leather ‘Letter Pouch’ that retails at $675.
Affordable Luxury: The Saint Laurent Letter Pouch, a blend of elegance and affordability
However, most Saint Laurent bags start at $1,250 for shopping totes. The brand’s current ‘it bag,’ the Rive Gauche tote bag, retails for $1,390.
Most of Saint Laurent’s most sought-after bags, including the Kate and Sac de Jour, start at $2,390.
Some of Saint Laurent’s most expensive bags include the Rive Gauche tote ($1,390), the Kate ($2,390), and the Sac de Jour ($2,390)
While Saint Laurent bags are more attainably priced than Chanel and Hermès, they can retail for up to $7,100 for ostrich leather styles. Most permanent line bags retail for under $4,000.
Investment Worthy: The Resale Value of Saint Laurent Bags
You might be thinking of buying a Saint Laurent bag to resell. It’s not uncommon for fashionistas to cycle through handbags, selling older designer bags to pay for new ones.
Saint Laurent bags hold their value better than most designer brands. It sits amongst the top five designer handbag bags for maintaining their resale value.
A Worthy Investment: Saint Laurent bags known for their impressive resale value (Credit: Helen89 / Shutterstock)
The price for a pre-loved Saint Laurent bag will depend on its style and condition. The most sought-after styles will better hold their value. Bags that are lightly used will also have a higher resale value than those that show more wear.
If you plan to resell your Saint Laurent bag, protect the material and keep the dust bag.
Italian Craftsmanship: The Birthplace of Saint Laurent Bags
Saint Laurent bags are made in Florence, Italy. The brand is continuing its manufacturing tradition in Italy. While the company’s headquarters are in Paris, its handbags are manufactured in Italy.
Authenticity in Craftsmanship: Saint Laurent’s ‘Made in Italy’ hallmark of quality (Credit: Sorbis / Shutterstock)
The fact Saint Laurent bags are made in Italy adds to their luxury. Luxury and contemporary brands are increasingly moving manufacturing to Asia to reduce production costs.
YSL vs. Saint Laurent: Understanding the Brand Evolution
YSL and Saint Laurent are the same company. The brand underwent a significant branding change in 2013 when Hedi Slimane joined the fashion house as Creative Director.
The name change came when the company streamlined its collections for a more contemporary and minimalistic aesthetic.
Brand Evolution: From Yves Saint Laurent to Saint Laurent Paris in 2013
You will still find some handbag styles carrying the original YSL logo, while others take the minimalistic ‘Saint Laurent’ monogram.
The YSL Beauty brand, one of the most popular luxury makeup collections, continues to feature the YSL logo. However, the YSL beauty range is controlled by L’Oreal.
Authenticating a YSL Bag: Tips and Tricks
If you’re buying pre-loved, you want to know how to spot a fake YSL bag. We recommend only shopping from consignment websites and stores that offer authenticity services.
Otherwise, you want to know how to spot a genuine YSL bag from a fake. Here are a few things to look out for:
1. Magnetic Closure
Most Saint Laurent bags use a magnetic closure. Authentic Saint Laurent bags have a smooth magnetic closure that is shiny and reflective.
Fake YSL bags will use smaller magnetic closures with a matte surface. Look for any screws in the magnetic closure, which is usually a red flag.
Most Saint Laurent bags have magnetic closures that are smooth, shiny, and reflective
2. Branding Font
The easiest way to identify a fake YSL bag is by looking at the font used for the branding.
Counterfeit bags typically fail to replicate the exact font used. The Saint Laurent branding uses a thick font with round edges. Fake YSL bags will use a smaller and thinner font.
The current YSL logo uses a thick, rounded sans serif font called Helvetica Neue Bold
3. Dust Bag
Gone are the days when a dust bag, box, and receipt were easy ways to tell if a Saint Laurent bag was genuine. Counterfeiters are taking extra steps to replicate everything that comes with YSL bags, including their dust bags.
However, dust bags are often the easiest way to tell a genuine vs. fake Saint Laurent bag. Authentic YSL bags will have a luxurious soft material, while counterfeit bags usually come in polyester dust bags.
The most classic and popular Saint Laurent bags include Loulou, Sac de Jour, Sunset, Solferino, Kaia, and Lou (Credit: Report / Shutterstock)
You also want to check the font used for the dust bag. Fake dust bags will use thinner lettering that looks faded. Genuine dust bags will have bolder and thicker lettering.
4. Material Quality
Take time to look at the quality of the bag. Saint Laurent is a luxury brand making handbags in Italy using high-quality and exotic leathers. Lambskin, calfskin, and suede are among some of the most popular materials for Saint Laurent bags.
Counterfeit bags won’t use the same quality material or pay as much attention to detail. Most fake YSL bags have a plastic texture with an artificially high shine. Look out for any issues with the stitching, material, and edging.
Saint Laurent uses only high-quality leather and has neat and sturdy stitching
Saint Laurent is one of the most sought-after luxury handbag brands. Buying a pre-loved YSL bag is the best way to experience this luxury brand at a more attainable price point.
Are Saint Laurent bags made in China?
No, Saint Laurent bags are not made in China. They are made in Italy, primarily in Florence.
Saint Laurent has a long-standing relationship with Italian suppliers and craftsmen, and they believe that Italy is the best place to produce their bags due to the high quality of the materials and the craftsmanship.
Do Saint Laurent bags have serial numbers?
Yes, Saint Laurent bags have serial numbers. The serial number is a unique identifier that is stamped inside the bag. It can be used to verify the authenticity of the bag.
The serial number for a Saint Laurent bag is a 12-digit number with two 6-digit numbers split in the middle by a dot. The first six digits of the serial number represent the style number of the bag, and the last six digits represent the date code. The date code is a 4-digit number that indicates the month and year the bag was manufactured.
The serial number for a Saint Laurent bag is usually stamped on a small leather tag that is sewn into the lining of the bag. It can also be stamped on the bag’s hardware, such as the zipper or the clasp.
The serial number is not a foolproof way to authenticate a Saint Laurent bag. However, it can be helpful, especially with other factors, such as the bag’s appearance and construction.