PHOTO COURTESY OF SAINT LAURENT
What Saint Laurent has done with the Le 5 à 7 this summer feels far more intriguing than a typical seasonal update. The French fashion house has taken one of its defining bags and rebuilt it from scratch. Popularised by celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Zoë Kravitz, the familiar silhouette now arrives in an entirely unexpected form.
Not in a different leather either. Instead, Saint Laurent constructs the bag from individually threaded wooden beads, forming an open lattice that drapes, shifts and catches the light with every movement. It is less office companion and more statement piece, decidedly perfect for gallery visits and leisurely dinners.
Available in two sizes, the first is a petite hobo crafted in black wooden beads. Measuring 28 cm wide and 15 cm high, its proportions remain remarkably faithful to the classic Le 5 à 7. The darker finish lends an almost jet-like richness, absorbing light rather than reflecting it.
Where the second option, the Le 5 à 7 Large, scales everything up to 35 cm by 30 cm. Rendered in warm, honey-coloured natural wood, it offers a more relaxed presence while remaining equally striking. Both styles also come with a removable leather zip pouch for cash, cards and keys.
Naturally, Saint Laurent’s iconic YSL Cassandre clasp sits front and centre as a signature finishing touch. While the wider collection also reimagines the Icare shopper and Panier basket bag in wooden beads, the Le 5 à 7 arguably wears the material best, carrying a summertime ease that feels entirely at home in wood.
