There comes a time in one’s life where they can finally purchase a coveted Louis Vuitton bag. Louis Vuitton bags are a status symbol, an icon of luxury, a way to show the world that you’ve “made it“, and they can last several decades. If you’ve been wishing for a Louis Vuitton bag for years but can’t decide which bag you should buy, this guide is for you. The vast variety of handbags that LV has released is overwhelming, even for collectors! This blog post will provide examples of the most popular styles of Louis Vuitton totes, shoulder bags, top handles, crossbody bags, and clutches to help you.
What Should Your First Louis Vuitton Bag Be?
In this post, you’ll find our top recommendations for LV bags, which are grouped as:
1. The Two Most Popular LV Bags: Speedy and Neverfull
2. LV Large Totes
3. LV Shoulder Bags
4. LV Convertible Top Handle Bags
5. LV Small Crossbody Bags
6. LV Mini Bags and Clutches
Before we dive in, there are a few questions to ask yourself:
What Will You Use Your Louis Vuitton Bag For?
As you’re deciding on what your first Louis Vuitton will be, think about your lifestyle and the purpose of the bag. Everyday use? Work? Are you a person that carries a lot? Do you want something small for day use, or are you looking for a special occasion bag like a clutch? Crossbody style? Tote?
Decide Which Louis Vuitton Bag You Want
If you’re close to a Louis Vuitton store, we recommend trying on styles in real life first. At this time, Yoogi’s Closet doesn’t have a boutique location to visit, but Yoogi’s Closet offers a 30-day no-hassle return policy, which you can read more about here.
Do You Want A Classic or Unique Bag?
Do you want a classic, well-known bag, or a more unique bag? Are you looking for a current style that’s available in Louis Vuitton boutiques or a vintage/discontinued piece?
LV Monogram vs. Damier Ebene
In this post, we’re only focusing on two of the most popular coated canvas materials that Louis Vuitton makes, Monogram Canvas (the LV logo print), and Damier Ebene Canvas (the brown checkerboard print).
Both Monogram Canvas and Damier Ebene Canvas are made from Egyptian cotton, silkscreened, and coated with vinyl to make them durable and water resistant. Due to the extensive process coated canvas undergoes, the material is extremely durable and lightweight. Aside from the difference in patterns, the main difference on these two materials is the leather.
Traditional Monogram canvas bags come with untreated natural cowhide leather (also known as vachetta leather), will develop a beautiful patina over time into a gorgeous honey or caramel color, much like a tan you get on your own skin. The downside is that it may be prone to water spots and stains.
Damier Ebene, on the other hand, is the more durable of the two; the leather is dyed brown and treated with a sealant and gloss to protect it from oils and the elements. Damier Ebene can easily be worn every day without showing much wear at all, which makes it the top choice for many LV buyers.
Louis Vuitton also makes other materials like Multicolore and Epi, and many of the bags you’ll find in this post come in those materials as well, but we know buying a Louis Vuitton bag is hard enough, so we’re trying to keep this simple. Now, let’s do this!
The Two Most Popular Louis Vuitton Bags: Speedy and Neverfull
An everyday bag would be the best bag to go anywhere with you, whether it’s the office, gym or the store. It would be your workhorse bag that you throw everything into. You might be a student or a busy mom or an executive or just someone that likes to carry a lot of stuff. For your first Louis Vuitton bag, we recommend a Speedy or a Neverfull: two LV staples and our best-selling styles. The Speedy and the Neverfull are the two most popular “starter” LV bags.
The Louis Vuitton Speedy Bag
The Speedy comes in two styles: Classic with two top handles or Bandouliere with two top handles and a removable strap.
The Speedy Bandouliere, also known as Speedy B by bag lovers, can be worn on the shoulder or across the chest with its adjustable leather strap, and has two zippers to open/close it, which is great for keeping both hands free. The Speedy Bandouliere is one of the most popular Louis Vuitton styles ever made
The Speedy comes in four sizes which indicate their centimeter length: 25, 30, 35, 40.
As for materials, go for Monogram Canvas or Damier Ebene bag for a reliable, durable everyday bag.
Yoogi’s favorite: Speedy Bandouliere 25 in Damier Ebene Canvas
Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene Speedy Bandouliere 30 (left), Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Speedy 30 Bag (right)
The Louis Vuitton Neverfull Bag
The Neverfull is the iconic tried-and-true tote that everyone has, but it’s for good reason. Originally released in 2007, the tote is one of the most practical of all LV bags with long, thin shoulder straps and a large zip pocket inside.
The Neverfull is capable of holding up to 231 lbs and can fit a laptop, water bottle, notebooks, diapers, and pretty much anything else you need to carry. This tote bag is meant to be jam packed with stuff, hence the name. The Neverfull can also be folded flat, which means you can travel with it or store it in your house without it taking up any space.
The Neverfull comes three sizes: small (Neverfull PM), medium (Neverfull MM) or large (Neverfull GM). The most popular size is the Neverfull MM.
The most popular material for a Neverfull tote bag is Monogram Canvas or Damier Ebene Canvas.
Yoogi’s favorite: Neverfull MM in Damier Ebene Canvas.
Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Neverfull GM Bag, (left), Louis Vuitton Damier Canvas Neverfull MM Bag (right)
There Are So Many More Louis Vuitton Bags To Choose From
While the Speedy and the Neverfull are the most popular choices for first time LV buyers, there are so many more Louis Vuitton bags to choose from. Louis Vuitton has discontinued many popular styles and you can only find them on the pre-owned market now. In this list, we’re including a mix of current styles and discontinued styles because Yoogi’s Closet buys and sells both new and vintage LV.
If you’re looking for a large Louis Vuitton everyday tote bag…
1. Babylone
2. Batignolles Horizontal
3. Cabas Mezzo
4. Iena MM
5. Luco Tote
6. Totally MM
The 6 Most Popular Louis Vuitton Tote Bags
If you’re looking for a Louis Vuitton shoulder or hobo bag…
1. Artsy MM
2. Sully
3. Galliera PM
4. NeoNoe
5. Delightful MM
6. Melie
The 6 Most Popular Louis Vuitton Shoulder Bags
If you’re looking for a Louis Vuitton top handle bag with a crossbody strap…
1. Alma BB
2. Croisette
3. Montaigne BB
4. Pochette Metis
5. Siena PM
6. Turenne PM
The 6 Most Popular Top Handle Crossbody Bags
If you’re looking for a small Louis Vuitton crossbody bag…
1. Eva Clutch
2. Favorite PM
3. Favorite MM
4. Pallas Clutch Crossbody
5. Pochette Felicie
6. Pochette Twin PM
The 6 Most Popular Louis Vuitton Small Crossbody Bags
If you’re looking for a mini Louis Vuitton bag or clutch…
1. Accessories Pochette
2. Beverly Clutch
3. Milla MM Pochette
4. Mini Accessories Pochette
5. Neverfull Pochette
6. Pallas Pochette Clutch
The 6 Most Popular Louis Vuitton Mini and Clutch Bags
No matter which bag you decide to invest in, Louis Vuitton bags are known for their quality and durability. If you’re ready to start shopping for your first, or your fiftieth, check our latest arrivals for our curated selection of current and vintage Louis Vuitton styles.