Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Embossed Leather Flap Crossbody Late 1970s Burnt Orange

Paris, late 1970s: light spills through the windows at 5 Avenue Marceau, the city moving just beyond the atelier walls. On the street, a flash of burnt orange leather cut through autumn grey — this Yves Saint Laurent flap crossbody, pressed with an animal motif and anchored by the house’s gold-tone Cassandre medallion. The oval logo hardware, drawn by Cassandre in 1961, marks the centre of the curved front flap, a detail as unmistakable as the signature in Saint Laurent’s own hand.

The body is formed from cowhide leather, its surface embossed in a subtle animal pattern, shifting between burnt orange and light brown depending on the angle. A gold-tone magnetic snap secures the front, while the adjustable leather strap allows both shoulder and crossbody carry — a genderless option, designed to move easily between wardrobes. Inside, beige fabric lining reveals one zip and two slip pockets; the interior remains clean, with no accessories included.

Condition is very good, with light scuffing to the edges and minor surface marks at the corners; hardware is bright, structure intact. This is Yves Saint Laurent’s Rive Gauche in its prime — the Cassandre medallion still gleaming, the bag itself a quiet relic of the era when Saint Laurent’s logo needed no introduction.

Era: Late 1970s–Early 1980s (visual dating; Cassandre hardware and embossed animal motif leather typical of YSL Rive Gauche bags from this period)
Condition: Very Good — light scuffing to edges, minor corner marks; hardware bright, structure solid
Material: Embossed cowhide leather with gold-tone hardware
Colour: Burnt orange and light brown exterior with beige fabric lining; gold-tone Cassandre medallion and hardware
Dimensions: W 22 × H 20 × D 7.5 cm
Serial: 284446
Made in: France