What is it about the Yves Saint Laurent Downtown tote bag that has it creeping slowly on the arms of more and more celebrities in the past few weeks? From Kylie Minogue, Naomi Watts, Salma Hayek, Jessica Biel, Ashlee Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Celebrities aside, this bag doesn’t really appeal to me because of it’s lack of structure and it’s asymmetric shape. The name, Downtown, does suit the slouchy shape of the bag down to a tee, while the gold buckle and stud hardware adds a subtle downtown cool vibe to the bag without going over the top.

I love the checked canvas YSL Downtown bag Ashlee Simpson is toting (she also has the bag in red). But in any other colour it just seems like a rather plain-rocker bag that isn’t screaming “you should pay $1495 for me now“. Looks aside, the Yves Saint Laurent Downtown comes in a medium and large size, and the medium is already quite roomy for a day bag, and like most other large ‘it’ bags, the large Downtown would work best as a weekend bag than a everyday bag. Because as we all know, big bags are bad for our posture or shoulders.

What do you think? Would you buy it? If so in a patent leather for $1295, a metallic leather for $1595, or in cervo montana leather for $1495? They’re still on stock at NeimanMarcus.com, so get in now if your in the market for one.

As for me, I think I might stick to lusting after a Chanel 2.55 bag (in black, then red, then white - in my dreams of course) and a Chloe Bay bag.