As regular PurseBlog readers have likely noticed, I’ve mostly loved Louis Vuitton’s work over the past couple seasons. Designer Nicolas Ghesquiere has really hit his stride with the brand, and in particular, the way his accessories department combines the classic LV monogram fabric with colorful leathers in clean-lined, modern designs has made one of the luxury world’s oldest icons feel fresh again. And I’m far from the only one who’s impressed: Vuitton bags are going out of stock left and right. Enter the Louis Vuitton Millefeuille Tote, the latest new design to use the monogram-and-leather approach that’s won so many fans.
The Millefeuille’s name is borrowed from a famous French dessert that uses three layers of puff pastry to form its structure, and appropriately, the bag of the same name uses three main compartments for its. The front and back compartments are line in contrasting colors of microfiber with monogram canvas exteriors, while the central compartment is in a third color of calf leather. The exterior compartments are largely open on top (the front one closes with a turnlock that pokes through to the tote’s exterior), while the middle portion is sealed with dual zippers.
The presence of the three distinct compartments is the Millefeuille’s primary design feature—the two exterior monogram pouches have a different color of leather on their opposite sides to help make them even more visually distinct, and the bag is not gathered at the bottom in an externally obvious way. From the side, the Millefeuille looks a bit like the office satchel version of a Céline Trio.
For me, this is where the design starts to get strange. There are so many contrasting colors and compartments that the Millefeuille feels a bit visually disorganized and unedited to me, and the open compartments give the tote an unfinished feel that doesn’t quite work on a bag with a complicated structure. I’m also not totally sure how the front closure will work; the turnlock comes through the front without the pink leather enclosure, which appears to use a tiny strip of leather to loop through the lock. If that’s the case, it seems as though the bag might be a little annoying to get in and out of, if you plan to use the front third of its structure.
In other ways, though, the bag gets high marks. Its three large compartments provide for plenty of storage and organization, and the optional (and again, contrasting) shoulder strap makes it a versatile carry. The bag currently comes in two versions—red and pink. Both retail for a price of $2,960, and both are currently in stock at Louis Vuitton’s website.
For me, this bag is a pass, but I could see it being loved by others—we want to know whether you’d love it or leave it in the comments.
Louis Vuitton Millefeuille Tote
$2,960 via Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Millefeuille Tote
$2,960 via Louis Vuitton
