YSL Beach Bag Icare in Raffia: Unboxing and Review Why I Decided to Return It

Not long ago, my hubby surprised me with this Raffia iCare Maxi, but I decided to send it back (I’ll tell you why in a bit).

Still, this YSL Beach Bag is a real head-turner. Before I returned it, I thought I’d do a little unboxing and review for you all.

Let’s begin the unboxing.

So, it is the YSL iCare Maxi bag in the raffia style. You might’ve seen this bag around last year, or maybe the year before that. Saint Laurent had released the exact same design, but in black leather.

In fact, I have a replica YSL iCare in the black leather version. I love the black leather one I bought. I’ve been eyeing this one too, but not sure how often I’d actually wear it. 

And I asked my husband what he thought of this bag, and he took it as a hint and went ahead and bought it. My silly, silly hubby.

This YSL straw beach bag is really big and spacious. 

The logo is also quite large, so if you’re not into big logos, this might not be your cup of tea. But if you’re into a bit of a bougie vibe, this could be a fantastic pick for summer. I really dig the raffia—it’s so summery.

• It’s got two medium-length straps that are nice and thick, so they feel comfy on your shoulder.
• Right in the middle of the bag, there’s a YSL logo in brown gold hardware, and below that logo, it’s got a tan brown leather base.

If you don’t want to be too flashy, you can just wear it with the logo facing towards your body.

• And inside, it’s literally just one big open space with no pockets or anything.
• It’s got these grommets with ‘Saint Laurent Paris’ on either side. The grommets look good.
• The leather tab also looks good. It says the bag is made in Madagascar.

Just like the leather version, this YSL beach bag also comes with a little pouch. It’s made of raffia, and there’s a leather piece at the back, so it has a tiny back pocket.

I like this little pouch. It would be just perfect for lunch or parties at beach clubs!

What Fits Inside the YSL Raffia Icare Beach Bag?

Since this is a beach bag, let’s pretend I’m packing it up for a day at the beach.

I’ll take a towel, another towel to lie down on, sunglasses, suncream, shower bits, wipes, a camera, a book, and even another small crossbody with essentials (like a YSL Mini Lou Camera Bag).

The capacity is insane, you can fit all of them.

There’s still space for a water bottle, snacks, and crisps. I think it’s a really good beach bag YSL made.

is it just a beach bag?

Because this one is a very casual bag, it isn’t like the black leather version that could double as a work bag.

I was worried it would be too large to use anywhere other than the beach, and I didn’t want it just sitting in my closet.

But actually, it’s a really good bag for running down to the shops as well. It kind of gives off a grocery shopping vibe to me, especially when it’s cinched in with the links.

conclusion: Why I Returned the YSL Beach Bag

I love this YSL beach tote bag, no doubt about it. But the dealbreaker for me is the price, it’s just unacceptable.

The all-leather one is $4,900, and this raffia one is even pricier at $5,300. Yeah I know it’s handwoven, I still feel it’s not worth it, especially there is the YSL beach bag dupe out there.

(I’ve bought a few Chloe replica bags before, and one of them was the Chloé Small Woody Basket Bag, which is also a raffia bag. I was super impressed with it, it’s got a great design and practical. Pretty much become a must-have for my summer outings.)

Yes, I just said it’s more than a beach bag, but it’s a summer bag, so I’d only use it for a few weeks during the season. 

I know myself too well, there’s a good chance this one would just end up sitting in my closet, like when they release a new bag next year.

So after I talked some sense into my husband, we took the bag back to the store.

What do you think? Would you keep this YSL iCare beach bag instead?

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