Saint Laurent

Sharp tailoring, black leather and the interlocking YSL Cassandre logo define Saint Laurent, the Paris house owned by Kering. Its ready-to-wear leans on Le Smoking tuxedo heritage, slim suiting and rock-influenced pieces, while its leather goods include the Loulou, Le 5 a 7, Sac de Jour and Kate bags, along with heeled boots and the Opyum heel. Saint Laurent sells through its own boutiques, website and selected luxury retailers. Its beauty and fragrance line, YSL Beauty, is produced under licence by a separate company and is not covered here. Prices sit in the luxury tier, with some small leather goods as entry points. Buyers should note that many bags use hardware logos that can scratch, compare quilted and smooth leathers for durability, and check fit on tailoring, which is cut close to the body.