Famous French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent died Sunday in Paris at the age of 71. Laurent will be remembered best perhaps for making menswear sexy for women.

Saint Laurent’s three-letter monogram is perhaps as synonymous with — and significant to — 20th-century style as T.S. Eliot’s is with literature. He was “unquestionably the greatest designer” from the 1950s to 2000, says Valerie Steele, director of The Museum at FIT (New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology). Saint Laurent’s influence and magnitude is eclipsed only by Coco Chanel, Steele says. “Just as Chanel brought modernism into women’s fashion, you could say Yves Saint Laurent brought fashion up to a kind of contemporary life.

“Most designers are incredibly lucky if they can contribute one thing to fashion,” Steele continues. “But he was like Picasso: He contributed to so many significant movements.” He championed women’s liberation in the 1960s and ’70s and the era’s youth-led street culture (from mod to hippie). He shepherded the rise of ready-to-wear with the 1966 launch of his Rive Gauche line. He celebrated the globalization of style, fused fine art with fashion (as with his 1965 Mondrian shift) and injected vivid color into a historically staid industry.

A handbag however can affect your body, look and shape in the same way as a well fitting dress. Follow the tips below when choosing and buying a handbag, not only will it be in proportion with your body shape it, can also make you look slimmer.

The YSL Tribute Flat Tote is made to look ancient with the crackled gold finish, the finished product has an old world feel with a new world appeal. The gold is not super blingy, more of a subdued brushed gold. The doubles shoulder straps have an 8″ drop. This bag is just as flat as they say it is, with merely 1″D, but somehow I still love it. It is a fresh look, a clean look, and a highly sought after bag. The inside does have a zip pocket along with silk satin lining. Overall dimensions are 16½”W X 17¾”H X 1″D. Pre-order through Saks for $1295.

With a wide range of beautifully crafted accessories to choose from, Yves Saint Laurent will be your ultimate go-to designer.

This is the type of a bag you simply can`t go wrong with,the type of a bag I like to refer to as an investment, an investment you’ll never be sorry you made. If you decide to pass on this one, there will be bags in the future that`ll match up to this one of course, but if you like it and you are in a position to buy it I would wholeheartedly suggest that you go for it.

The double handles have large grommets along the back and front which can come in handy if you want to give the bag a personal touch with a scarf or some other detail. The open top reveals a fabric lined interior with a zip compartment and a zipped pocket.

Go for it at bluefly.com for $1,436

There is something so beautiful about many YSL handbags. I do not love them all, but I do love most. The designs are typically very elegant, clean, and wearable.Summer is here and this is the bag you want to be seen carrying around. Featuring a brown leather trim on top as a contrast to the soft ivory canvas, this beautiful hobo is both elegant and casual which makes it a perfect summer all day bag. The double handles have large grommets along the back and front which can come in handy if you want to give the bag a personal touch with a scarf or some other detail. The open top reveals a fabric lined interior with a zip compartment and a zipped pocket.The YSL Ivory Tan Leather Trim Large Tote available at bluefly.com for $1.436

Yves Saint Laurent Y-Mail Tote 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. Available to pre-order for $1295 at Neiman Marcus. 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. Photo courtesy of Celebutopia.

Rihanna was spotted with this bold statement bag: the leopard print Yves Saint Laurent Fauve, Monday on shopping. It’s the rock-and-roll rebellious sister bag to YSL’s famous Muse, and it fits Rihanna to a tee (especially in those painted-on pants!). Rihanna’s bag is rendered in calf hair, trimmed in black leather and adorned with contrasting gold hardware, sans the YSL tubelock that the Muse is known for. It’s available in two sizes through the YSL website, and Rihanna’s Fauve is the $1,600 medium choice.

If you pick up the new YSL handbag, Forever Satchel, and hold it, it’ll easily fit into the crook of your hand. A designer handbag in its true sense! But why it was named initially Muse II? Frankly, no much idea! In any case, the name Forever Satchel suits the designer handbag well.

The red color looks appealing, so are the two closing flaps, and the golden color lock in the center. There is an overall symmetry to the handbag design, even though the black leather lacks in luster and texture. Regarding utility, the Forever Satchel is reasonably spaced for its category, and the material is quite durable as well to stand the test of time.

Overall, the Forever Satchel may just suit those old fashioned ladies of substance, who generally prefers utility over looks. The YSL Forever Satchel designer handbag is priced at $1,895.

The Rive Gauche bag from YSL it is available in stunning ostrich, like the one Sienna Miller carried, it is also available in leather. There is a new rendition of the Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Tote made with crocodile-embossed patent leather. While it is available in both black and white, I find the white more appealing. There is gold tone hardware and ring insets on the sides. One of the features I love most about this bag is the option of top handles or a detachable shoulder strap. The focal point is the turn-lock closure with the extended tab. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $1,895.