I shared earlier this summer that I was on the hunt for a Louis Vuitton Onthego during my trip to Paris. My search for an Onthego was a bust, but that didn’t stop me from picking up another LV on my trip abroad. Prices in Paris are the best in the world for Louis Vuitton, so I knew I wanted to purchase a new bag while I was there. I mentioned that I went to several Louis Vuitton locations during the week, but was greeted with the friendliest sales associates and the least amount of shoppers at the Saint-Germain location. Some of the locations I went to had long lines to get inside, but I walked right into Saint-Germain on several occasions and was given immediate service each time.
After accepting that an Onthego wasn’t going to happen, I decided to look at other bags on the last day of my trip. After trying on a few styles, I narrowed it down to two bags: the Pochette Métis and the Marignan in Sésame. As you can see from the photos, I went with the Marignan, but I did not come to that decision easily (bless my patient and kind sales associate who talked me through the pros and cons of each bag). I love the look of the Pochette Métis and have been a long-time admirer of the bag, but the Marignan ultimately won me over, and I am so glad that it did. I have been loving this bag so much much already.
Aesthetics
I personally am a huge fan of Louis Vuitton’s monogram print, so that preference alone automatically gives the aesthetics of this bag a high rating from me. As the owner of several Louis Vuitton bags, the Marignan is by far the most elevated monogram canvas handbag I own. The contrast of the tan grained leather pocket, the dark tan handle, and the monogram print on the Sésame Marignan is absolutely stunning. I find the color combination of this bag to be striking while still remaining neutral, a tough balance to strike, but LV did it. One side of the removable crossbody strap is monogram print, and the other side is an olive green color. If you want to remove the strap altogether and carry it by the top handle, you have that option as well (although the crossbody strap is super convenient). The LV padlock on the front of the bag adds a pretty detail, and I just love everything about the look of it overall!
Usability + Functionality
Usability and functionality are where I struggle the most with this bag, and that is because I am a worrywart. The corners of this bag are not protected, leaving them susceptible to earlier signs of wear and tear. If the monogram develops a hole, it can’t be repaired, so I am wary of the corners of my bag getting knocked against a rough surface. There aren’t any protective feet on the bottom of the bag either, so those corners are at further risk.
This bag’s handle is worry-free, which I think balances out the unprotected corner concerns. The handle on the Sésame color is treated, so I don’t have to worry about pesky water stains that are normally such a concern with untreated Louis Vuitton vachetta. The majority of LV monogrammed bags come with vachetta handles, so this was a huge bonus for the Marignan (and was a big reason I picked this bag instead of the Pochette Métis). I want to flag that if you’re interested in the Marignan, not all of the color combinations available come with treated handles, so choose carefully if that is important to you as it was to me.
The padlock closure on the Marignan is magnetic, which is super convenient when wearing it. My only gripe is occasionally the magnet doesn’t remain closed, so the flap of my bag is dangling half-open. It only takes a second to correct the magnet and lock it securely into place, so definitely not a deal-breaker, but worth noting.
Quality + Construction
As I mentioned, I own several Louis Vuitton bags, and I can say with certainty that the Marignan is the best quality of them all. The bag is extremely well constructed and is made with thick-coated canvas. The stitching on my bag is impeccable, which has not always been the case with all of my LVs. The leather pocket of the bag is soft, and the padlock is shiny and untarnished. The lining is made of tan microfiber, and though I was worried the tan color would get dirty, I’ve been using it often and haven’t noticed any sign of wear on the interior.
Price + Value
This bag retails for $2,230 in the US. That is a big price tag for a coated canvas handbag, but I think the price is justified. The Marignan measures at 11.4″ L x 8.3″ H x 5.3 D”, making it larger than your average crossbody bag. Since it is on the larger size, the price tag seems more reasonable. The leather pocket also adds a luxe look to the bag that other monogram coated canvas bags don’t have, giving you more bang for your buck. Personally, I think this bag would be better priced at $1,850, but I often wish that luxury bags cost less than they do. I still believe that $2,230 is a fair price for this bag, especially since it is large enough to be carried every day.
Staying Power
One of the biggest benefits of Louis Vuitton monogram is the fact that it will never go out of style. Monogram is a classic, and you can wear it for years to come. The messenger style of the Marignan is a classic, non-trendy shape, and I think this bag will stand the test of time. I’m not sure if Louis Vuitton will ever discontinue the Marignan, but even if they do, I can rest easy knowing they’ll never discontinue their monogram print.
Overall Rating
I love this bag and am so happy with my decision to purchase it, especially from an LV in Paris! But I would be remiss if I ignored the corner problem, as this is a known issue, and I find myself checking the corners every evening after a day out with my bag. That being said, I’ve used this bag almost every day for the last month and a half, and no corner issues have arisen for me yet (and despite my worries, I haven’t over-babied it). This bag is spacious enough to fit all of my belongings, and I carry a lot. I can fit my cosmetics pouch, sunglasses, my keys, phone, and a paperback book or mini iPad. I love that I can carry everything around with me while still wearing this bag as a crossbody without it hurting my shoulders. I also am a fan of handheld bags, so having the option to remove the crossbody strap and carry it by the handle is a huge bonus to me. This bag stands out and is not a style of Louis Vuitton you see everywhere. I’ve never seen another Marignan in the wild, which I find to be a pro. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy seeing Louis Vuitton bags in the wild, but it’s nice to be a little bit different with my Marignan!
