This couple is so darn cute, it’s almost unbearable. Hilary Duff was spotted the other night at MSG, cheering on her beau and yesterday, they were out and about shopping. Hilary was looking cute and casual in Uggs, her usual big hoop earrings and a still-so-fabulous Yves Saint Laurent Downtown bag. Hilary’s medium downtown is a squishy leather purse with side zip closures and a front pocket. The Downtown, one of YSL’s most popular bags, is available in a host of colors and sizes through YSL’s website.

  The Downtown is officially a mainstay of YSL’s neverending handbag collection. Now there are newer styles of course, but the Downtown goes down with the Muse as best-travel-bags-of-all-time. I know trends come and go, but you always want a swank carry-on as you waltz through the airport. Black and patent are also here to stay, so get this one on sale and feel gifted. The large size Downtown is plenty large enough for standard carry-on essentials.
 

  The epitome of chic, understated glamour, this Yves Saint Laurent Muse Handbag is a real powerhouse. Perfect for the savvy, fashion-conscious professional and easily one of the most used handbags you’ll ever own, it’s made of gray wool felt, which is an unusual material that makes a nice change from the usual stuff. I love the contrast of black leather trim. The whole effect is very polished, and it’s a great bag to carry to the office year round.

  Send yourself a little love letter, courtesy of this adorable Yves Saint Laurent Y-Mail Tote. Similar to the Minaudiere Satin Clutch, it bears YSL’s French boutique address. This version, though, is large and somehow even more glamorous with its allover gold finish and large, practical size. It’s guaranteed to turn heads with its audacious, bold front, and I love that it’s so roomy that I could carry it anywhere.

I have nothing but fabulous things to say about Kate Moss‘ Yves St. Laurent Downtown Bag in gray ostrich, and I love that she’s looking uncharacteristically chipper strolling Amsterdam with her BF Jamie Hince (believe me, Amsterdam will do that to you ;o) ) but… what’s with the Cruella De Vil coverup? Kate’s style has always been off-kilter and fabulous but this particular ensemble is just off-kilter, sans fab. I would venture to say it’s almost offensive. I suppose if Kate were getting points for originality……

Here is one celebrity anyone would be hard pressed to say something negative about. Gisele Bundchen and her mile-long limbs took to the windy streets of New York City, YSL Besace in tow. Gisele is seen here hailing a cab across from the restaurant, Caliente. It’s a wonder Ms. Bundchen, famous as she is, hasn’t been struck by some vicious press, considering she’s been in the public eye since her 1996 debut (Fashion Week, no less!) onto the modeling scene. But with the ability to make everything look effortless chic, I hope Gisele stays the press sweetheart for a long time.

If you’re still craving metallic handbags (hey, I’m sure you aren’t alone), this Yves Saint Laurent Golden Sac Raspail will undoubtedly do the job quite nicely. Though it looks like something Paris Hilton and company would carry to the beach, it’s much more practically used as an everyday tote. Use it in lieu of the usual, drab work bags throughout summer - it’s a nice way to add a twist to your professional wardrobe. It’s not for me, but it’s certainly no slouch.

Demi Moore is known for her flawless, classic style. She’s in YSL a lot of the time, and now she’s toting the Yves Saint Laurent messenger bag in the new embossed suede. The dusty slate color looks great with neutrals (which Demi always wears), and the embossed texture stops the handbag from becoming boring. Dark antiqued brass hardware looks great with the soft grey-blue color. This bag would also look great on a guy, imho.

As we increasingly turn towards online shopping to satisfy our retail appetites, it’s becoming more and more rare to have an enjoyable in-store experience, don’t you think? All that fighting through the crowds stuff. And the even worse ‘not in stock’ scenario. Not to mention actually having to deal face-to-face with people (urgh) and this is made more frustrating if it’s incompetent sales staff you’re dealing with.

No wonder we like to curl up in front of the computer monitor in our dressing gown with a bag of Galaxy Minstrels chocolate and be left to shop to our heart’s content (or is that just me?)

Either way, Melanie Seasons’ in-the-flesh handbag shopping session at Coach sticks out as one of those heart-warming tales of retail therapy success. After popping down to the mall, Melanie picked out this pretty bag (pictured above) and, as you do, paid the nice shoplady and gave it a good home. A few weeks later she received a personalised(!) handwritten(!) thank-you note from the lovely people at Coach.

Ah, there’s nothing like a shopping story with a happy ending to really give you the warm fuzzies.

As usual, Kylie Minogue is the epitome of everything chic. She’s paired her elegant coat and scarf with a lovely handbag from the Yves Saint Laurent Y-Mail collection. It’s a dainty little purse that actually has a slightly relaxed air about it, despite its glamorous design. Though I love almost everything here, I have to say I hate the shoes. They look like bandages. But the purse? I wouldn’t mind getting one of those in the mail.