Okay, so I’ve been eyeing this YSL College bag for a while now. You know, the one that’s all classy and edgy at the same time? Yeah, that one. I decided, what the heck, let’s try to remake it! I mean, why not?
First things first, I gotta get my hands on some materials. I went to a bunch of stores, checking out leather, chains, buckles, you name it. These stores around here, they usually have the good stuff, especially the ones that only sell high-end materials. Stay away from the cheap stuff, trust me on this one.
I spent a good few days just feeling different types of leather. I wanted something that felt, you know, expensive. Like, buttery smooth but still sturdy. Not that cheap, plasticky stuff. And the color! It had to be that perfect shade of black. Not too shiny, not too matte. Just right. You know how these designer brands like to change things up with their names – used to be Yves Saint Laurent, now it’s just Saint Laurent. Keeps you on your toes, I guess. But the classic style, that’s what I was going for.
Finding the Right Pieces
Next, the hardware. Oh boy, the hardware. I went to so many places looking for the right chain. It had to be the right weight, the right color – a kind of aged gold, not too bright. And the YSL logo! That was a tough one. I finally found a place that could custom-make it for me, but it took some back and forth to get it looking just like the real deal.
- Leather: This took forever! Buttery smooth, perfect black. Found it at a specialty leather store downtown.
- Chain: Aged gold, not too heavy, not too light. Scored this at an online store that had good reviews.
- YSL Logo: Custom made. Took a while, but it was worth it. Looks almost identical to the original.
- Lining: Got some nice, soft fabric for the inside. Gotta make it feel luxurious, right?
Once I had all the pieces, it was time to put this baby together. Now, I’m no expert seamstress, but I’ve dabbled in a few DIY projects before. Let me tell you, this was a whole different ball game. Cutting the leather was nerve-wracking. One wrong move and you’ve ruined the whole thing.
Sewing it all together was a real challenge, and I made a fair share of mistakes along the way. I am not going to lie. There were a couple of times when I thought I’d messed up big time and almost gave up. But, I kept at it, ripping seams, re-sewing, and slowly but surely, it started to look like a bag!
Honestly, the whole process took way longer than I thought it would. And let’s be real, cheaper is cheaper. Maybe one day I’ll just save up and buy the real thing, or maybe not. But, I have to say, I learned a ton. And, even if my YSL College bag remake isn’t perfect, I’m pretty darn proud of it. It’s got that 90s vibe, sleek and minimalist, but still elegant, just like the Saint Laurent Le 5 7. And I made it with my own two hands. It might not hold its value like those real investment pieces, but it’s definitely valuable to me.
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