“I like my money where I can see it, hanging in my closet”. The unofficial catchphrase of Carrie Bradshaw may as well be the motto of every woman who shops from Louis Vuitton.
Their bags are investment pieces that will not only retain their value but often give you a return on your initial investment.
As one of Europe’s most iconic fashion brands, Louis Vuitton is one of the “big four” brands, alongside Chanel, Dior, and Hermes.
Selena Gomez, Nicky Hilton, Hilary Duff, and Alicia Vikander carrying Louis Vuitton bags (Credit: Avalon.red / Instar / WENN)
Whether you’re thinking of buying your first Louis Vuitton or your twenty-first, this guide is for you. We’re covering the most iconic and popular Louis Vuitton bags of all time so you know which styles to add to your wish list.
While not all these bags are directly available from Louis Vuitton, you can often find them on the pre-loved market. Depending on the style, you might be able to grab a bargain or pay a mark-up to make the bag your own.
We’ve focused on current bags, so they’re easier to get your hands on, whether you’re a newbie to the brand or a long-term collector of Louis Vuitton.
1. The Speedy
The most iconic style from Louis Vuitton is the ‘Speedy’. For most people, it’s their first bag from the brand and is considered an entry-level bag. It was designed in 1930 as a compact version of Louis Vuitton’s iconic ‘Keepall’ luggage bag.
The bag has undergone several remodels, with the canvas repainted with everything from cherries to watercolors. The Speedy is one of the most popular styles, usually incorporated into at least one seasonal collection a year.
Louis Vuitton 2001 Pre-owned Speedy 25 Tote Bag, $2,038 at Farfetch
The Louis Vuitton Speedy is one of the luxury brand’s most purchased bags, featuring the classic monogram canvas
As legend has it, the Speedy 25 bag was specifically made for Audrey Hepburn, who wanted a compact version of the Keepall duffle bag for everyday use.
The Speedy is always available in the brand’s three canvas prints, with both a strap and hand-held option. It’s also available as part of the ‘My LV Heritage’ range, where you can personalize the bag with your initials to make it one-of-a-kind.
The Speedy appeared in the most recent ‘By the Beach’ summer collection. You can purchase the Speedy in the nano, 25, 30, and 35 sizes.
No Louis Vuitton collection is complete without at least one Speedy bag.
2. Pochette Metis
Launched in 2012, the Pochette Metis is a modern classic within the Louis Vuitton brand. You’ll rarely find it in stock on the website, making it one of the most in-demand styles.
This multi-functional bag has a top handle and shoulder strap, allowing you to carry it on the shoulder or crossbody.
Louis Vuitton Pochette Metis Crossbody Bag, $2,050
A compact schoolbag-like satchel with the classic LV monogram and gold-tone hardware
Along with the classic monogram canvas, you can also purchase this bag in Monogram Empreinte and the reverse monogram, a perfect choice for anyone looking for a more unique option.
You can add a classic twist to the bag by putting a twilly or bandeau scarf around the handle of the bag.
3. Neverfull MM
Although this bag is relatively newer than the Speedy, the Neverfull is considered its sister bag. The two are equally practical and the usual starting point for most people looking to purchase their first Louis Vuitton bag.
The bag was released in 2007 and became an instant sell-out. It’s the perfect choice for any college student, professional woman, or traveler. You can take it with you on the go as a real-life Mary Poppins bag.
Louis Vuitton 2008 Pre-owned Neverfull PM Tote Bag, $2,186 at Farfetch
Roomy but not bulky, the Louis Vuitton Neverfull is a practical bag with a classic timeless design
The bag is available in the three classic canvas prints, along with seasonal prints and occasional additions, like the Epi Leather and Empreinte. You can purchase the Neverfull in three sizes – PM, MM, and GM.
Louis Vuitton Pre-Owned Neverfull MM Tote, $2,897 at Farfetch
This pre-owned Neverfull tote is made from durable Epi leather in a fuchsia pink shade
If you’re looking to stand out from the crowd, you want to avoid buying this bag in the classic canvas prints.
The Empreinte leather is the latest option for the Neverfull and gives you the functionality of the bag with the versatility and uniqueness of the Empreinte leather.
This bag is one you’ll reach for every day, whether you’re jetting off to the sun or running after kids.
4. Alma
The Alma bag was designed by Gaston-Louis Vuitton, the grandson of Louis Vuitton, in 1934. The bag took its name from the ‘Alma Bridge’, which links two of Paris’ most iconic neighborhoods over the River Seine.
This structured bag has a leather bottom and top handle, with the smaller BB size also featuring a crossbody strap.
The Monogram Vernis Alma bags were a staple of the mid-2000s, with everyone from Kim Kardashian to Paris Hilton carrying the largest size of the bag.
Louis Vuitton Pre-owned Alma MM Tote Bag, $2,095 at Farfetch
A classic favorite, the Louis Vuitton Alma features an elegant structured design in shiny Monogram Vernis
Although the larger sizes were the most popular, the BB is now the dominating style for this bag. It’s the perfect chic mini bag and comes in several materials, including Epi and Vernis leather, along with classic monogram and Damier ebene canvas.
If you’re looking for an entry-level Louis Vuitton bag that isn’t a Speedy or Neverfull, consider the Alma BB.
Louis Vuitton Pre-Owned Alma BB 2-Way Handbag, $2,274 at Farfetch
The smaller version of the Alma bag comes with round top handles and a detachable shoulder strap
5. Twist MM
The Twist bag is a modern classic within the fashion house, marking a move towards more minimalistic silhouettes and a shift from their monogram canvas onto leather bags.
It takes the brand’s emblematic Epi leather and gives it a new look, with a sculptural silhouette and golden metal clasp. This bag is roomier than you’d expected it to be, with a sliding chain strap that adds a touch of glamour to your look.
The Twist was introduced in the 2015 Cruise show and has been named as “a new classic of the house”.
Louis Vuitton Twist MM Epi Leather Bag, $4,150
A sleek and minimalist bag that will give a polished finish to any look
This bag is the perfect choice for anyone who wants a polished look without buying a Louis Vuitton bag covered in the brand’s logo or made with canvas, instead of Epi leather. It’s an alternative to the classic Chanel 2.55 or other chain shoulder bags from similar luxury brands.
You can take this bag from day to night with ease, with several smaller matching SLGs available to finish off your look.
6. Noe Bucket Bag
Did you know that Louis Vuitton created the bucket bag as a way of carrying around champagne bottles? Yep! It might make you take a second look at this iconic bag style.
The original Noe bag was designed with enough space to carry five champagne bottles and was created by Gaston-Louis Vuitton in 1932. The bucket bag is one of the oldest Louis Vuitton styles.
You can now purchase it in six sizes, from the NeoNoe to the Noe backpack and Noe pouch.
Louis Vuitton 2000s Pre-owned Noe Bucket Bag, $2,121 at Farfetch
One of Louis Vuitton’s oldest styles, the Noe is a classic bucket bag originally made to carry champagne bottles
If you want your collection to reflect the heritage of Louis Vuitton, this bag is one you’ll want to pick up in the classic monogram canvas. If you’re a fan of the bucket bag style, you’ll have to add the OG to your collection.
The bucket bag is a timeless style, with it usually having a major fashion moment every few years. As the style has hardly evolved since the 1930s, the Noe is the perfect investment bag if you want a timeless silhouette and style.
You can now purchase the bag with a colored interior if you want something to make your bag stand out while carrying your champagne around to your next garden party.
7. Petite Boite Chapeau Bag
Another modern icon is the ‘Petite Boite Chapeau’ bag. While it’s one of the most expensive (and smallest!) bags in the current Louis Vuitton line-up, it’s one we’re seeing everywhere in street style.
Louis Vuitton Petite Boite Chapeau Bag, $4,850
The Petite Boite Chapeau is one of Louis Vuitton’s smallest yet most expensive bags
It’s an essential for anyone collecting Louis Vuitton bags, and the bag takes its inspiration from the brand’s iconic hatboxes.
This bag features a removable luggage tag, reflecting the heritage of the bag, making it one of the few styles to come with this additional SLG.
8. Pochette Accessoires
There’s some debate as to whether this style counts as an SLG or a bag, but it’s most popularly worn as a small shoulder bag.
The Pochette Accessoires has always been a staple in the Louis Vuitton catalog but is experiencing a surge in popularity since the resurgence in ’90s trends.
Louis Vuitton Pochette Accessoires, $790
A classy yet more affordable tiny purse that can fit a Zippy Wallet and a smartphone
If you’re on a budget or looking for a more attainable price point, this bag is the perfect option. You can fit a Zippy Wallet from Louis Vuitton and all your other daily essentials.
Due to its popularity, this bag is becoming increasingly harder to track down in-store, with most people choosing to pick one up vintage on the preloved market.
Louis Vuitton 2007 Pre-owned Mini Pochette Accessoires Pouch, $1,182 at Farfetch
Carry the Mini Pochette Accessoires as a mini pouch using the chain strap or as a small pouch inside your bag
If you prefer a more compact style, check out the Mini Pochette Accessoires. You can use these bags as stand-alone pieces, or as small leather goods inside your larger Louis Vuitton bags.
9. Capucines Bag
Another modern icon from Louis Vuitton is the brand’s ‘Capucines’ bag, named after the Rue des Capucines in Paris. This street is where Louis Vuitton opened its original store in 1854.
It’s one of the top-tier styles by Louis Vuitton and is available in everything from lambskin to crocodile leather. It originally was made using Taurillon leather, but new materials are appearing on a seasonal basis. The bag is available in several sizes, including the mini, PM, and BB.
Louis Vuitton 2018 Pre-owned Small Capucines Tote Bag, $5,458 at Farfetch
Louis Vuitton’s Capucines features a structured rectangular silhouette made from soft Taurillon leather
Angelina Jolie, a former brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton, was one of the first celebrities spotted carrying the bag.
The bag has an understated structural look, making it an alternative to the classic Lady Dior bag or recent Trendy bag by Chanel.
The Capucines bag reflects the growing desire within Louis Vuitton to move away from canvas bags and towards more high-ticketed leather styles.
While the brand will never do away with its canvas pieces, we are seeing less availability for these pieces, with newer styles featuring leather instead of canvas.
10. Multi Pochette Accessoires
Whether you love it or hate it, the Multi Pochette Accessoires is one of the most popular Louis Vuitton bags in recent years.
It takes its inspiration from the most popular trends of the 1990s and starts with a Pochette Accessoires, before adding a smaller pochette, shoulder strap, and a round coin purse.
Louis Vuitton Multi Pochette Accessoires, $2,050
The Multi Pochette Accessoires is a crossbody hybrid of a Pochette Accessoires, a Mini Pochette Accessoires and a Round Coin Purse
Every celebrity and influencer on our Instagram feed is rocking this bag, with other brands like Prada and Miu Miu quickly replicating the look with their equivalent small leather goods.
If you’re someone who likes to be super organized with a hands-free crossbody bag, the Multi-Pochette Accessoires is the perfect choice to kickstart or refresh your Louis Vuitton collection. It offers a contemporary silhouette for collectors who prefer a more laidback look.
11. Petite Malle
If you want your collection to reflect the heritage of Louis Vuitton, the Petite Malle is a must-have. Since 1858, Louis Vuitton’s most iconic item has been its steamer trunk.
When the Petite Malle appeared on the runway in 2014, fashion editors and influencers instantly hailed it as the ‘mini’ steamer trunk.
Louis Vuitton 2015 Pre-owned Petite Malle Crossbody Bag, $5,029 at Farfetch
Designed after Louis Vuitton’s popular 1858 trunk, the Petite Malle features the trunk shape with gold-tone lock and fittings
This bag has all the signature features of a Louis Vuitton piece, from the gold hardware to the monogram print and trunk structure. You’ll often see Louis Vuitton’s customer associates referring to the bag as the ‘little trunk’.
This style can take you from day to night, making it a great investment into your collection. It’s worth noting that the bag is a smaller size but should fit your essentials.
Along with the monogram canvas, you can also find this bag in the Damier ebene and reverse monogram canvases, along with epi and vernis leather.
12. Bumbag
Although Louis Vuitton is synonymous with classic bag designs, the brand is increasingly shifting its focus onto streetwear styles.
No one ever thought Louis Vuitton would ever release a bumbag, but it’s a sign of how this legendary fashion house is putting its focus onto a younger demographic.
This uber-functional bag gives you a chic streetwear look that you can wear as a belt bag, cross-body, or over the shoulder for a casual look.
It’s large enough to fit all your essentials and is a must-have for younger Louis Vuitton collectors. If you’re always on the go or live in a city, the Bumbag is the style your closet is waiting for.
Louis Vuitton Bumbag, $1,760
Elevate your street-chic wear with Louis Vuitton’s monogrammed canvas Bumbag
Whether you’re starting your Louis Vuitton collection, or looking for your next bag, these are the twelve styles you want to have on your radar. Each of them is the perfect investment into your closet and will stand the test of time.
With Louis Vuitton frequently having price increases, these are bags you want to snatch up as soon as possible. With a little TLC, you can keep these bags in your closet for years to come, or even resale them when you want to shake up your closet.