GUIDE TO LOUIS VUITTON CLASSICS

Louis Vuitton Classics

With over centuries of heritage and a reputation for crafting time-honoured handbags, Louis Vuitton is one of the foolproof options to consider when one is selecting their very first designer bag. Owning a Louis Vuitton classic is akin to owning a piece of fashion history. With over dozens of iconic designs, the timeless French fashion house’s handbags rank as one of the most coveted high-end designer bags in the market. 

Thinking about purchasing your new prized possession from Louis Vuitton? Scroll down to get our low-down on the most iconic classic pieces from the luxury house and take your pick. 

The Speedy

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Requiring little to no introduction, the Louis Vuitton Speedy can almost be considered a mascot of sorts for the brand. Inspired by Hollywood darling Audrey Hepburn, the Speedy was designed to be a miniaturised version of the actress’s favourite Keepall bag so that it could complement her daily lifestyle. Big enough to hold all your essentials while remaining lightweight and compact, the Speedy is widely known as the go-to luxury travel carry-on. The Speedy was first introduced in 1930 in the 30 size (the most popular size that, as mentioned before, was created at the wish of Audrey Hepburn), and can be seen today in a variety of sizes and in different leathers. 

The Keepall

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In 1930, Gaston Louis-Vuitton, the grandchild of the luxury trunk maker Louis Vuitton, created the Louis Vuitton Keepall. Known back then as the "Globe-Trotter" and "Tient-Tout" ("hold all”), the Keepall was a modern twist on the weekender bag that was made to encapsulate the spirit of modern travel back in its day. It was lightweight, flexible and perfect for helping a frequent flyer navigate the frenetic airports. Not to mention, when long distance travel took off in the 30s, the duffle bag silhouette was easy to carry, making it the more convenient solution to heavy luggage suitcases and boxy trunks. Needless to say, the Keepall became an instant icon associated with the luxury jet setting lifestyle. 

The Keepall comes with or without a Bandoulière: the removable shoulder strap, and is available in four different sizes: 45, 50, 55 and 60.

The Neverfull

Fun fact: It is believed that creating a Louis Vuitton Neverfull bag takes 45 whole hours. Having made its debut in 2007 to stand as a competitor against Goyard’s Saint Louis bag, the Neverfull is considered to be one of the staple designer bags to own in a luxury collection. Over the years, the Neverfull’s ongoing popularity has led to it being widely thought of as one of Louis Vuitton’s exclusive house icons. A spacious and roomy bag with functionality at the forefront of its design, the Louis Vuitton Neverfull is perfect for the person that’s ever on the go. Designed to be completely reversible with its contrasting interior, the Neverfull is effortlessly versatile, and not to mention sturdy – the Neverfull GM can hold up to 200 pounds of weight! In 2013, Louis Vuitton updated this classic to include an accessoires clutch to make sure that you’ll never have to fish hard for your keys or wallet again. 

The bag comes in three sizes: PM, MM and GM.

The Alma

Introduced in 1934 by Louis Vuitton’s grandson Gaston-Louis Vuitton, this handbag had several names before the iconic name finally stuck: the “Squire bag”, the “Champs-Elysées” and finally, “Alma”. Named after the Alma Bridge in Paris, this iconic LV bag is known for its structured sturdiness, rolled leather handles, and Art Deco-inspired domed silhouette. It was rumoured that the Alma was initially custom made for Madame Gabrielle Chanel back in 1925 as a special request. The designer doyenne wanted a unique travelling bag, and seeked the help of the maison to create a day-sized version of the Alma Voyage. Since this implies that the original Alma was created in 1925 before being released publicly in 1934, it is suggested that the Alma bag could possibly be the second handbag in the fashion house of Louis Vuitton, further solidifying its ties to the luxury fashion house’s history. 

The Noé

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The story goes that in 1932, a French champagne maker asked Louis Vuitton to create a bag that could transport five bottles of their liquor. The Noé, the first recorded bucket bag was conceived, and the rest as they say, was history. An enduring classic of Louis Vuitton, one of the most distinctive features of the Noé (and of all bucket bags) is the drawstring closure, which interestingly was introduced to ensure that the liquor bottles being carried would not fall out or break as easily. The Noé now comes available in six different styles and sizes: the NeoNoé MM, the Neo Noé BB, the Nano Noé, the Petit Noé, the Noé BB, and the Noé Pouch. 

The Pochette Metis

The Monogram Classic Pochette Métis Bag.

When the Pochette Metis was first released in 2012 in the classic LV Monogram Canvas, it flew under the radar before blowing up in popularity in 2014; the Pochette Metis was so often sold out that many fans were devoted to the hunt for one, tracking them down and counting down the days eagerly for the bags to arrive in stores. The original Pochette Metis is one of Louis Vuitton’s best-selling modern bags that is notoriously hard to land your hands on.

Over the years, Louis Vuitton reimagined the Pochette Metis in various canvases: Monogram Empreinte (a softer leather embossed with LV’s initials), the rare Reverse, Epi, and Infrarogue. 

Featuring three interior compartments, an exterior zipped pocket, and the LV S-lock, the Pochette Metis has a messenger, school-bag silhouette which gives it that preppy, youthful feel. The Pochette Metis comes in two sizes, the original size and the Mini.

The Twist

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The latest addition to Louis Vuitton’s list of House classics, the Twist is one of creative director Nicolas Ghesquiere's most buzzed about introductions for the brand. Featuring an interlocking “L” and “V” closure that, as you’ve guessed it, twists to open and close, the Twist was Nicolas Ghesquiere’s minimalist instrument in modernizing the LV brand. A reinterpretation of the Epi Trapeze clutch, a trapezoidal clutch from the House’s archives, the Twist was originally released in the classic Epi leather. However, the popularity of this modern day classic has led to new iterations of the Twist being released with every current season in a plethora of styles, sizes, novel limited edition prints, and canvases. At the time of writing, the Twist is available in three sizes: Mini, PM, and MM, and in other styles like the Twist Chain Wallet, Twist Belt Chain Wallet, and the Twist Tote.

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