The Saint Laurent Manhattan Bag, first introduced in 2019, has a sleek, structured silhouette accented with polished gold or silver hardware. While its design is indisputably informed by classics like the Hermès Kelly Bag and the CELINE Classic Bag, the Manhattan managed to capture the imagination of luxury bag buyers when interest in “Quiet Luxury” surged in recent years.
I like how functional the “Small” Manhattan is, but its lack of a crossbody strap was a deal-breaker–until the release of the “Mini” crossbody in 2023. When I realized the straps on the two bags are of the same weight and width, making them interchangeable, I bought both, and have been surprised by the different uses I am finding for them.
SIZE
Saint Laurent offers the Manhattan bag in several sizes and formats: the Mini crossbody is 7.4x wide, 5.5″ tall, and 1.5″ deep with an adjustable strap; the “Small” is 9.4″ wide, 6.9″ tall, and 2.4″ deep, with a shoulder strap; and the “medium” or standard size is 11.4″ wide, 7.9″ tall, and 3″ deep, or roughly the size of letter paper, with a shoulder strap. Also in the collection is a larger shopping bag that’s 12.7″ wide, 8.9″ tall, and 4.1″ deep, with a top handle that’s not adjustable, and an evening clutch that is 12.2″ wide, 5.5″ tall, and 1.2″ deep.
The “Mini” Manhattan has one interior card slot but no other built-in organization. It holds a bit more than a toy bag could, but not meaningfully more as the bag is structured: eyewear in a soft case, a smartphone without a bulky case, a slim card case, and a small cosmetic item or two quickly fill it up.
It also works as an evening bag, as the crossbody strap can easily be substituted with a fun top handle.
The Saint Laurent Mini Manhattan Crossbody Bag can be found at Bloomingdale’s, FWRD, Luisaviaroma, Net-a-Porter, Matches, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Saint Laurent, and Selfridges.
The “Small” Manhattan Bag is a more functional size at 9.4″ W x 7″ H x 2.5″ D. But it’s still not for packrats or people who like to travel with all manner of incidentals–what it does have room for are true essentials, which in my case include both glasses, sunglasses, two or three face masks, my phone, a card case, and a few extra personal items.
The Saint Laurent Manhattan Small Shoulder Bag In Box can be found at Bloomingdale’s, FWRD, Harrods, Luisaviaroma, Neiman Marcus, Net-a-Porter, Saint Laurent, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Selfridges.
Both the “Mini” and the “Small” suit petite frames, but I find the capacity of the Small Manhattan more fitting for my everyday–the “Mini” demands that I edit what I carry with a heavy hand and doesn’t leave room for an extra convenience or two.
The medium Manhattan bag is also a reasonable size but I didn’t consider it as I already own several bags with similar dimensions, like the Chanel Jumbo/Large Classic Handbag.
The Saint Laurent Medium Manhattan Shoulder Tote is available at Bloomingdale’s, Farfetch, Net-a-Porter, Nordstrom, and Saint Laurent.
DETAILS AND CONSTRUCTION
The push-clasp closure is easy and intuitive to operate and the gold-tone hardware accent contrasts nicely with the smooth leather. But I wish Saint Laurent innovated (a tiny bit) more on the closure or the bag shape (maybe add a touch of harmonious imbalance to pay homage to its Mondrian collection), as the design feels indistinctive to the Saint Laurent brand.
The bag’s construction and material are also middling: while the machine stitches are even and straight, the edge finishes are a bit sloppy. The base of the Mini Manhattan is especially problematic for a $2100 bag–from certain angles look like it was sewn on as an afterthought.
MATERIAL
Bags in the Saint Laurent Manhattan line are primarily made from box calfskin leather, which is boardy (i.e., stiff) and has a smooth appearance. However, Saint Laurent’s box leather, especially in darker colors, looks almost glazed under brighter conditions, and attracts/highlights fingerprints or any marks as clearly as patent leather does. But the bag is fairly easy to clean, as grime can be wiped off easily with a lightly damp cloth.
Saint Laurent also offers this bag in a croc embossed patent leather and shiny patent leather.
ALSO CONSIDER
If money, time, and patience were no object, most of us would probably choose an Hermès Kelly over bags in the Saint Laurent Manhattan collection. But for a premium bag with ready availability, consider the Classic Box Bag, which CELINE “discontinued” last year but you can still find them in good condition on the secondary market at very reasonable prices; I like it a lot more than the Triomphe Bag that CELINE is pushing to replace it.
For similar designs at more approachable price points, Sézane’s Milo/Claude bags and Ralph Lauren’s logo-detail bag are all under $500 and of good quality.
PRICE
As of 2024, the “Mini” Manhattan retails for $2100, the “Small” is $2990, and the “Medium” is $3400 in box leather. While Saint Laurent has been excluded from most storewide sales and gift card events at Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, and Saks Fifth Avenue, FWRD‘s storewide promotions have occasionally included Saint Laurent bags, but their selection is smaller compared to larger department stores.
You can find the entire collection of Saint Laurent’s Manhattan bags here.
