The Modern Elegance of Saint Laurent

Did the idea of French-girl chic start with Saint Laurent? It seems likely. To wear Saint Laurent is to inhabit a legacy of chic that doesn’t try too hard; it just is.

Creative director Anthony Vaccarello’s vision of uncomplicated glamour has propelled it into today, allowing the brand’s devotees to feel effortlessly cool and casually confident.

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Above: Cabochon square earrings; cross-back bodysuit; pencil skirt; bracelets; Gio belt, and jacket, SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO.

At least that’s how model Elsa Hosk feels when she slips into something like Vaccarello’s version of Saint Laurent’s Le Smoking jacket, which she wore to the house’s spring/summer 2025 show.

“It was just so iconic,” she says of the piece, which Yves Saint Laurent designed 60 years ago and was inspired by a men’s tuxedo but cut with a more tapered waist, giving it a more feminine shape. “It made me feel so empowered just thinking about all the other women who have worn Saint Laurent smoking jackets in movies.” She adds, “Of course, it was tailored to perfection.”

Part of Vaccarello’s magic, Hosk says, is how he can take classic Saint Laurent pieces and make them modern. “Every show that he puts on, you can feel the DNA of the Yves Saint Laurent woman, but he always puts a spin on it that’s so unique and contemporary and wearable,” she says. “I really resonate with that strong woman: the effortlessness, the French nonchalance—but also ultrachic.”

Above: Cabochon square earrings; coat; and v-neck dress, SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO.

Wearability is key for Hosk, who on top of having a rigorous work travel schedule is also mother to a toddler. Her clothes—and particularly her accessories—have to be able to not just withstand that fast-paced lifestyle but also help facilitate it.

“I don’t think motherhood has really changed my style,” she says. “I thought it would. I think if anything, I’m a little faster in how I do things. I don’t have as much time, so the planning of it has gotten a little bit better.”

Above: Cabochon square earrings; cross body scarf (on left shoulder); cardigan; bra; pencil skirt; anchor belt; and sandals, SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO.

Case in point? The roomy Jamie Shopping Bag—in buttery-soft nappa leather, with its signature Carré Rive Gauche patchwork topstitching, maillon chain straps, and bronze Cassandre logo—now comes with two leather laces at the sides that can be tightened and loosened to adjust the size and silhouette for whatever life is demanding of you that day.

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In Paris, Hosk’s contains a sketchbook, her phone, and a go-to lip balm. On another day, it might also contain some kid snacks. “Because of the mixture of the leather and the chain detailing, you can wear it in the day or you could wear it at night. You can go to dinner, or you can go out with it. During the day, it can be a bit more masculine, a bit more slouchy.”

That versatility is part of Vaccarello’s magic.

All together, Hosk’s looks for this shoot, set on the streets of Paris at night, are pure glamour; separately, you can see a top that can be dressed down with jeans, while the slouchy Jamie Shopping Bag can work for a quick errand with leggings and sneakers.

It’s all about what Hosk calls her daily “armour.” They’re pieces, she says, that “show the world who I am, what I’m about, what my personality is like.” That’s the power of great fashion.

Above: Jamie Shopping Bag; bomber jacket; laced tank top; bracelet; lace wrap pencil skirt; tights; and D’orsay pumps, SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO.

Opening image: Snowball earrings; tuxedo jacket; pants; and L’entracte slingback pumps, SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO.

Discover the collection at ysl.com.

Model: Elsa Hosk
Hair: Pawel Solis
Makeup: Lauren Aiello
Manicure: Julie Villanova
Production: Tann Services