If you’re a lover of luxury bags, then you are definitely familiar with the YSL LouLou. Released in early 2017 by Anthony Vaccarello, the LouLou was named so as a tribute to the late Loulou de la Falaise, who was a muse and close collaborator of Yves Saint Laurent for many years. The YSL LouLou is the perfect bag for the modern day woman, and we’ve compiled a detailed review to explain exactly why.
YSL LouLou Design
If asked to describe the design of the YSL LouLou in a few words, we’d say that it is a feminine bag with a slight rock and roll feel to it. One of the most noticeable things about the look of the LouLou is the padded quilted leather, a feature which gives the bag more volume. Add in the leather padded chain handles and the metal interlocking YSL initials on the front flap, and you’ve got yourself a bold, yet still classic, luxury handbag.
Versatility is another strong point of the YSL LouLou bag, and it can definitely be dressed up or down for any occasion. The chain strap is moveable, which means it can also be worn as a crossbody bag. It is worth keeping in mind, however, that this might not always be so practical due to the boxy shape of the LouLou, especially if you are considering buying the medium or large size. Either way, it is good to have the option.
The Y-quilted leather of the LouLou is extremely smooth, which is a result of the soft matelassé calfskin leather it is made from. Despite its softness, it is actually very durable, and luxury handbag lovers who own this bag have commented that it is actually tougher than Chanel Lambskin leather. Speaking of Chanel, the overall look of the Saint Laurent LouLou is regularly compared to the Chanel Jumbo Flap bag and is often bought as a less pricey alternative.
YSL LouLou Interior and Storage Space
The YSL LouLou is extremely spacious and all available sizes can definitely accompany you from day to night. A tablet can fit in both the Medium and Large sizes which makes it a useful bag for long days or travelling. Items stored inside are kept safe with the help of a magnetic snap closure, which is a common fastening method for Saint Laurent bags, such as the YSL Niki and the YSL Sunset.
Keeping things organised in a spacious bag can be quite tricky, but the Saint Laurent LouLou can handle this exceptionally well. The cotton-lined interior consists of two compartments which are divided by a middle pocket. This is bound by leather and can be closed with a zip. Both larger compartments are pretty spacious, with the front compartment slightly bigger than the back one. Also, the back compartment has a zippered slot pocket which is the entire length of the bag at the back.
We’d say that the only flaw of the YSL LouLou’s compartmentalisation is the fact that there is no pocket on the exterior of the bag.
YSL LouLou Sizes and Dimensions
The YSL LouLou bag comes in three sizes – Small, Medium and Large, with dimensions for each available in the table below. In general, the LouLou is considered to be quite a big bag, and the large size may be too big for people with smaller frames. That being said, the bag is pretty lightweight for its size, which is another plus!
| Style | Dimensions | Shoulder Strap Drop | Folded Strap Drop |
| LouLou Small (0.68 kg) | 25 x 17 x 9 cm | 50 cm | 25 cm |
| LouLou Medium (0.99 kg) | 32 x 22 x 11 cm | 48 cm | 26 cm |
| LouLou Large (1.45 kg) | 38 x 27 x 14 cm | 48 cm | 26 cm |
YSL LouLou Available Colours
The YSL LouLou is available in an array of colours and metal finishes, and a list can be found in the table below. It is also worth noting that Saint Laurent often release seasonal versions of the bag, which may or may not be on this list.
| Size | Colours* |
| YSL LouLou Small | Black Metal Hardware: Black Bronze Metal Hardware: Black, Dark Smog, Legion Red Black with Grey Metal Hardware: Black, Light Tea, Earth Grey, Freesia, Pale Blush, Powder, Blanc Vintage |
| YSL LouLou Medium | Black Metal Hardware: Black Bronze Metal Hardware: Black, Dark Green, Legion Red Grey Metal Hardware: Black, Denim Brut, Navy, Light Tea, Dark Red, Earth Grey, Wood, Eros Red, Dark Vintage. |
| YSL LouLou Large | Bronze Metal Hardware: Black Grey Metal Hardware: Black |
YSL LouLou Retail Price
| Size | Price* |
| YSL LouLou Small | €1,650 / £1,570 / $2,050 |
| YSL LouLou Medium | €1,850 / £1,760 / $2,290 |
| YSL LouLou Large | €2,050 / £1,950 / $2,590 |
All in all, the Saint Laurent LouLou is a practical and extremely good looking bag. It is versatile, spacious and can be used for any occasion.
Shop the YSL LouLou
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Other Bags in the YSL LouLou Collection
Since the launch of the original LouLou bag in Y-quilted leather, Saint Laurent have added multiple variations of the bag to the LouLou collection.
YSL LouLou Puffer Bag
First off, we have the puffer version of the YSL LouLou. Often referred to as the YSL Puffer bag, it is pretty much the same as the original LouLou bag except for the fact that it is made from lambskin leather and has puffer jacket-inspired quilting. It also comes in three sizes and usually has the same price tag as the original LouLou.
YSL Toy LouLou
Next up, we have the smaller crossbody version of the LouLou bag which is often referred to as the LouLou Toy shoulder bag. The shoulder strap is adjustable, removable and can also be partially detached and made into a wrist strap. The dimensions of the Toy bag are 20 x 14 x 7.5 cm and it usually retails for ~€950. This is actually quite a decent price for a designer handbag which can be worn in three different ways.
YSL LouLou Backpack
Last but not least is the LouLou backpack. This comes in Y-quilted leather and is available in three sizes – small, medium and large. That being said, the large version of the backpack can be quite hard to get ahold of and sells out really quickly on the YSL website and also from other stockists. The LouLou backpack normally retails between €1,350 – €2,000 depending on the stockist and size.