Oh my, this has been an amazing few days of great bags here at Bag Snob! Thanks to the fantastic PR team at YSL, we have exclusive photos of the latest from the House of Fabulous (aka YSL)! Muse addicts can now satiate their obsession with the Muse Two from YSL. The edgy and hip sibling to the uber popular bag- the Muse, Muse Two is available in multiple sizes and leathers that we predict will make a major splash with bag snobs worldwide. The large is 38cm x 17cm x 28cm (15″x 6.6″ x 11″) with 7″ straps at $1,895 and the medium is 31cm x 15cm x 24cm (12″x 5.9″ x 9.5″) with 6″ straps at $1,645 for the leather and the mock croc versions ($5,995 for the ostrich). There is also a multicolor patchwork version and it is seriously the best patchwork bag EVER.
I love this entire collection, it is the definition of effortless chic and in sync with Stefano Pilati’s minimalist aesthetics. Easy to open hook closure on flap and two front straps are the only hardware details on the soft leather bags. I am partial to the blue ostrich trimmed in cream canvas and blue leather(and have it on order), it is just the ultra fabulous bag I need for the season! I love the soft structure and the shape- it’s like a casual and young birkin! Perfect for young bag snobs who have been coveting a birkin, this is destined to be a classic you will never regret. Can you tell that I am excited!?!?! The Muse Two is the kind of bag you build a wardrobe around! Get on the wait list now- call Fatima at YSL 310-271-4110 to order! YSL & Handbags also available at Saks.
Jan 24-UPDATED REVIEW: We were so excited about this bag, we both immediately reserved ours – giddy with delirium, we exchanged multiple phone calls about color, size, material, even quantity of what we are getting. Then I go in to see this in person. The boutiques have a preview sample and I could not wait to get my hands on it. Wading through rain, traffic and time limitations, I forged my way to get my first glimpse. And this is why you always need to see a bag in person before making any decisions. They call this a “patchwork” bag, which confused me but I will clarify. They describe this bag as lined in canvas, which is kind of deceptive. It is actually just a canvas bag, the entire structure inside and out is canvas. Leather piece are then sewn to the front, back and sides, thus “patchwork”. There are no leather seams. No wonder this bag is so well priced!!! The flap is entirely leather but that leads to the other issue I have with the bag. The handle is on top of the flap so unless you close the bag, holding on to the handle will pull the whole thing open. The closure is this really cool stud that inserts into a lock, but this is really difficult to do on a floppy bag that you cannot push against to get the lock to close. I rarely, if at all, ever close my bags so this is a huge issue for me even if I can get over the fact that this is a canvas bag with leather patched attached. But if you can overlook these quirks, it is a great looking bag that is amazingly chic. I still love it and still have mine on reserve but this will not be a regular bag I use. I have lots of bags so that’s ok, but if you need something practical for daily use, this might not be the one.
have died and gone to bag heaven. I like the multicolored one!!! totally hot!
I almost fell out of my chair. This is the definition of a must-have. Thanks for the terrific news, Bagsnob
That is exactly what happened to me when our friend and occasional contributor- the Bag Whore told me about it.
We aim to provide the latest and greatest in bags for our readers
Glad you like it!
Don’t want to burst your bubble. But I had this bag on order and it came in on Fri. (last week YSL at South Coast). It was disappoiting. The blue with the mock croc has white canvas trim, and it is white canvas on the sides. In addition when you take out the stuffing and put in your stuff it falls to the bottom and there is no support so it changes the look / shape of the bag. Maybe the ostrich will be different but I took my money and bought a navy JChoo Ramona and I am still waiting for the blue patent Majorelle.
When you said “Perfect for young bag snobs who have been coveting a birkin” I was sold!
I am love love LOVING this bag, especially in the eggplant-coloured one (is this the patchwork version you mentioned?).
These bags are ugly .. I dont think they will catch on in my part of town.
Ohhh…my…god…I’m regretting going back to grad school. As soon as I get out and get a job again I’m gonna get myself one of those! That is if I can still find one by then. Thanks Tina for posting all the fabulous bags lately
Hiya
the bag is lovely indeed and actually after seeing the same pic on british vogue rushed to ysl store to put my name down on the waiting list
however a very small detail stoped me:
the bag has got some bits made out of canvas
this is a problem for me
i think expensive bags should be all leather
the overall design is great however
another interesting thing though is that for spring summer 2008 ysl remodelled the muse in an amazing blue (i think they call it sky blue)
the shade is divine and actually compliments the bag
this is the list where my name is
Hi All,
Yes, it has a bit of canvas trim which is why it is fairly inexpensive. I have an Hermes H bag made of canvas and leather and I love it. The French have been using canvas as a base for Spring/Summer bags for generations, it is very “Cote d’Azur”
I love it.
I like most of what YSL has to offer and want to like these, but they look like a blatant ripoff of the Mulberry Bayswater (with a nod to the Ralph Lauren Ricky bag), and the juxtaposed materials create a very cheap-looking effect. I’ll take the Majorelle over this any day.
Hi Karen,
I understand your point but neither the Mulberry Bayswater nor the Ricky from RL are orginal shapes. The shape stems from the classic Hermes birkin (the HAC), a riding bag originally made for men.
And Yes, the Majorelle is fabulous! http://www.bagsnob.com/2008/01/ysl_spring_bag.html
The Majorelle and the Muse Two are YSL’s answer to the Kelly and the Birkin for those who are not quite ready to shell out 8k for a bag or who want classics with a bit of modern edge.
I have over a dozen Hermes Birkins and Kelly bags so this is refreshing modern change yet still has the classic elements I like in bags.
Hi Bag Snob!
When will these bags be available? Do you happen to know if Saks and Neiman’s will be carrying the Muse Two? I’d love to call YSL and get on the list, but I like to remain loyal to my local SAs, too
Thanks!
C
Hi C
YSL boutiques are already receiving shipments of their Spring/Summer bags.
If you want to buy from Saks or NM, you will have to contact your SAs.
Just heard from my SA at South Coast that the Majorelle will only be available in patent, according to their buy sheet. The white one, you picuted is in patent too. I am so bummed, but maybe the buyer bought regular leather too and its not in the book. But he thinks it won’t be available in regular leather until Fall 2008.
Hi Irena,
I know, total bummer it is only available in patent, Fatima told me the same last week and though I love patent, I have enough patent bags right now. Which is why I am going to get the Muse Two for spring and wait for the leather version of the Majorelle. I think they have different stock for Europe (the leopard belt here is black in US but is cream in Europe)so you might ask your SA to check with the buyer in Paris.
Not impressed…no comparison to the actual birkin. Kinda remings me of a gryson
Yrs,yes ,yes these are the bags I´ve been waiting for. YSL s great!
What a lively converstation these picture perfect YSL bags spurred! I too have been admiring these bags from far, they sure look appealing. But if it is true what Irena said, that the bag is just a hanging sack when unloaded, I shall look for something else. The canvas trims also bother me, I thoght it was all leather. How sad to have my illusion destroyed!
I don’t like these bags at ALL. The shape,the details, nothing. Big PASS on this one. And this is coming from a YSL lover.
Give me the simple black!!!
awww… i was instantly grabbed by the bag when i first clicked on this page, but irena’s comment discouraged me. does the shape really change when you put stuff in it? it’s too bad, this bag looks so absolutely perfect in the pic!
not in love! i like the black leather and eggplant, but the mock croc and the ostrich aren’t appealing to me. the canvas is nasty and i definitely see what irena is saying about the shape.
Well I love your taste bagsnob so I trust these bags must be pretty cool. I just called Fatima today because I was sold on the Majorelle but I can’t decide which size and I didn’t realize that it was patent either until I read the above comments.
The Bottega Blonde that you recommended is on sale almost half off at SAKS — which would you recommend between that and the Majorelle? I’m tempted to get the Bottega because I’m itchy to have a new bag NOW!
thanks!
This is fabulous. I saw it in Vogue this weekend and wanted to have it immediately! I should have known the bag snobs would already have all the deets on it =)
I love the ostrich but it is a bit expensive. I am not crazy about mock croc in general but the blue is so stunning! I will have to order and see it in person before I make judgment.
thanks for the info!
Hi Lize, go for the Bottega Blond! What a bargain at half off!
Also, for everyone with concerns regarding the shape- I recommend the medium size. I am not a fan of giant bags because they usually sag unless it is a rigid bag which would then be heavy. The Muse Two is meant to be slouchy and casual, as in effortless and fun. If you want a perfectly structured bag, go to Hermes and buy a birkin
Lastly, check it out for yourself before determining whether this bag is for you or not.
The eggplant is fab, love the multicolor look but the ostrich is sumptious, those of you who have not seen it in person should not judge! YSL ostrich is of top quality if a bit pricey.
Thank you for the useful information! I really like the bag and plan to get one for work use. Is suede really that hard to maintain? Should I stay away from suede totally? (the embossed pattern and the color change are so amazing though).But if that’s the case, I will probably go with an all-leather one (or a Balenciaga EB part time). Thanks for your opinion.
Dear bagsnobs,
I have an idea. As you as bagsnobs have gathered such a huge amount of knowledge on bags and purses, you could educate us, novice bagladies, on the history of the shapes we see today. I paid attention to your comment on the YSL Muse too: “The shape stems from the classic Hermes birkin, a riding bag originally made for men.” I would love to hear what are the ancestors of the basic bag shapes that are common to so many brands. Are the originals classics, and if so, are they still “alive” today? So what I am suggesting is for you to put together a major article on the Grey´s anatomy of handbags.
Hi Merit
That is a great idea, we will work on it after fashion week. I have been invited to take a private tour of the Hermes museum in Paris and am always trying to educate myself on the history of bags. This will be like my thesis
I also want to point out that the “Birkin” didn’t come into being until 1980, the predecessor to the birkin was the “haut a courroies”- which is actually the original saddle/riding bag made for men. The HAC is also the bag that Jane Birkin complained was too high to fit underneath the plane seat so Hermes made it shorter and wider, with loner handles and named it after her. (one of the many tales of how the Birkin came to be!).
The Kelly bag was made in 1956 for Grace Kelly to hide her pregnancy, it was never intended for public sale but when photos of her with the bag surfaced, she caused the very first “it” bag frenzy worldwide!!!
I can´t keep my thoughts off the multicolor patchwork bag. Does it have trimmed canvas too and is the interior canvas as well? What about the handle-in some pictures it almost looks blue? Do you know the price of it,medium and the large one? I just caught an idea..What if you´d carry a large magazine, which you could read on spare time.Would it help the sagging. I´m fairly tall 5ft10 and wouldn´t like to carry a small bag. Already now-thanks for your answer.One more question : Is the back side of this bag burgundy or black?
Mette-
I am glad you finally found a bag that fits your taste.
Is there a YSL store near you? I would go in person and judge for yourself. The large patchwork leather is $1,895, the medium $1,645.
The eggplant is trimmed in canvas but has leather on all sides.
Hi bagsnob! Thanks for the quick answer. Actually I love all YSL bags. I trust their design and am very satisfied with their desiqn and quality. My nearest YSL dealer is in Berlin and I am so satisfied with his assistence. He manages to get me just the bag I want,even if they don´t have one in their store.The newest YSL I´m supposed to receive this week is one that isn´t even presented in Europe, but he was kind enough to order it from US via Paris to Berlin. Now this is real sevice! He then sends it to me by UPS. Thanks to belonging to the European Union that has made things easy.There are lots of bags by different designers, but I like YSL best.
This bag is a riff on the Hermes Kelly, but it lacks the polish and elegance. I don’t understand the fuss over this bag. It won’t age well. The YSL catwalk bag is much more nicer.
Well, I really don’t see the Kelly look here. Kelly is very structured and sometimes it makes people look trying too hard. The YSL is more slouchy yet more “business” like than the Muse.
I don’t get the birkin feeling either. They are too different. If I want a Birkin or Kelly, I’d ge t them, but I won’t go for the Muse II just because it’s cheaper.
Bagsnob, if you could follow up on my previous question regarding the suede issue, that would be extremely nice. Thank you.
That’s one ugly bag. I love you girls, but your taste seems to have gone a bit Victoria Beckham recently. You’ll prolly take that as a compliment : )
I have read all the comments about the YSL bags and am annoyed that some compares these bags with the Hermes bags. Come on, where do you see the resemblence? These bags are fun and designed for everyday use.Grab and go. I don´t have a Kelly nor a Birkin bag. For me they are too serious -doesn´t mean that if someone would like to donate me a grey,large croc Birkin that I wouldn´t accept it. Can´t help the fact that I´m indeed a YSL fan. Got my latest last thursday and it is so,so perfect.
I live in London and was told today by the YSL shop that you have to pay for the bag before receiving it and that there is no refund if you are not happy. Do other bagsnobs have any recommendations as to whether I should buy the bag without seeing it. I am on the waiting list for the blue Muse II.
I love this website! I bought the exact same blue bag that La Moss is holding in the YSL ad and I must say it is definitely lush! The smell, the suede embossed croc leather- everything!
I was so excited the day I was getting it, it was like giving birth to a newborn baby (sounds mental, I know! )
This is definitely one bag that I will be using a lot this season!!! love you Bag Snob!!!!
I have the Muse Two bag in simple black. The only thing that I do not like about this bag is that it is super complicated to open and close. You must put the bag on a hard surface in order for the clasp to lock. Forget about throwing anything into this bag while walking or carrying other things in your arms.
i love this gorgious bag in croc embossed nubuk ,my god it is soooo elegant especially the blue navy color.i wish i can get from london as soon as i go there,my friend got the same bag in plum color,i was breathless!!!!!
hi, i’m noemi. i’m very interesting for this bag (muse two YSL) i want to buy it. i’m from italy, are there ploblems with customs? answer me soon.
tanks so much,noemi carone.
I want to purchase a simple black Muse II and considering if medium or large size is better? Any comments ??