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Review: Louis Vuitton Pochette Metis

An in depth review of the bag I HAD to have. See if it lives up to the hype for me...

It’s taken me months to adjust to our new norm, which I am sure goes for many of you as well, and now I want to focus on posts that you and I both love (which also allows me to shop my own closet). Though many think the Louis Vuitton Pochette Metis is only a couple years old, it was first released in 2013. However, in 2018 it quickly became the must have bag from the brand. It was really hard to track down, so hard that at one point I got oddly desperate and wrote a poem professing my love for it. But the stars aligned and only a couple days after I wrote that poem, my local Louis Vuitton store, where I was on the waitlist, called and said a bag came in for me.

I was so excited, like so excited. And then I got the bag, and I was, dare I say, underwhelmed. I opened it up and though I loved how it looked, it was smaller than I anticipated which made it less usable for me. I’ve not carried the bag as much as I thought I would since I bought it, and there are a variety of reasons why, but I’ve worn it enough to break it down in a longer review. Grab a cup of whatever and sit down, because it’s going to be a long one!

If you are interested in purchasing an LV Pochette Metis, you can now find them in stock pre-loved at Fashionphile in a variety of finishes.

Aesthetics

The immediate reason I fell in love with this bag is because of its looks, for me it’s a great looking bag! I was one of the people that absolutely adored the Proenza Schouler PS1 (man, those were the times!) and the Pochette Metis mixes that schoolbag cool look with classic LV monogram canvas and gold hardware. LV monogram canvas was becoming very popular again when this bag shot back up into must-have status (as were all logo prints), which made the style the ideal combination of what I loved.

As for more specifics on the aesthetics, the standout aspect is the top flap closure which is secured by gold toned hardware with two release tabs that latch the closure, along with a vachetta tab pull. There’s also a vachetta top handle that looks really pretty on this bag, offering a touch of elegance and structure. An optional shoulder strap (which I never take off, I find it makes the bag turn into an odd sized briefcase otherwise), offers 5 holes to make it both removable and adjustable. The back of the bag’s zip pocket is large enough to actually be usable (more on that below).

The smaller size makes the bag seem a little petite, which rings odd for me on a messenger work-style bag. When I think of a messenger or briefcase style, I imagine a bag to be large enough to hold more items and look a bit substantial when being carried. Again, this comes down to personal preference (more in the next category), but because of it, I took a point off the bag as I find this style bag should be a bit larger to match the bag’s shape.

Usability + Functionality

So here is where this bag takes a major hit for me, and majority of this is my own fault. If you ask Vlad he will tell you, I am terrible at reading dimensions and then actually visualizing dimensions. Even when I write it down or measure ahead of time, somehow the item always turns into something different than what I thought. And this is my fault, totally my fault. You can call me spatially unaware in this category. But with that being said, I imagined this bag was larger, and when I opened it, it was fairly compact, even on the small side. Vaughn already wears a 3T-4T diaper (he’s a big boy) and the diaper is the length of this bag. That means carrying a couple of his essentials, since he’s still in diapers and has baby needs, doesn’t work well for me.

I wanted a more substantial look from this bag and since the bag was always sold out in stores, I resorted to looking at photos of people with it online. Size comparisons only work if you know someone’s actual height and measurements, and with majority of people editing their photos and stretching them, you’re mostly seeing distorted views (so frustrating when you’re trying to make an informed purchase!). I am 5’11” and don’t have a petite frame, and more than ever in my life need to carry a lot of items, and this bag simply doesn’t cut it. It’s why I don’t use it much, because even if I keep my bag really organized, I simply can’t hold the everyday essentials for this time in my life. So while this makes the bag take a hit in my ratings, for you personally, it could be just the right size. Maybe you don’t have 2 kids and countless items you have to hold, or you aren’t as tall as I am or my size, and that would make this bag both look larger and work better for you. Dimensions are 9.84″W x 7.48″L x 2.76″D. I am just shy of 5″11 and wear a size 8 if that gives you a better idea of the size of the bag.

On the positive side, the Pochette Metis is set up in a way to allow for optimal organization, which for me is always one of the first things I look for in a new bag. The interior layout is quite functional as it’s split into 3 areas. The back is the slimmest compartment, so I don’t really use it much other than for smaller items I don’t reach for often, but the other two areas will hold the bulk of your items. However, if you fill the front compartment with too many items and overstuff the bag, it makes the entire bag look lumpy, which I despise. You need to be particular about what you carry in this bag to make it work, and while I have plenty of bags that are more compact that I don’t carry a ton of items with, I had mentally planned for this bag to be a great daily bag, and it doesn’t work like that for me.

One of the biggest perks is the zip pocket on the back of the bag is easily accessible and it fits an iPhone X very well. The back pocket zipper opens and closes pretty easily, but I usually leave it just a tad unzipped so I can quickly grab my phone if I need it. As everything is a bit more compact, the zipper teeth can rub against my hand a bit when I’m reaching in.

As I said above, there is an optional, adjustable shoulder strap. I never take it off of the bag (and think the bag looks too dainty as a briefcase bag without the strap). The strap is the right width to hold the bag up nicely and fit over the shoulder well.

Another area that gets a negative mark for me is actually opening and closing the top flap. While aesthetically pleasing, I find the mechanism used to open and close the bag to be tricky at times. When I first purchased the bag, I found myself having to give a slight pull to that top flap for it to fully be released. With more usage, it became easier to open, but getting the latch in place to close the bag isn’t always the easiest when the bag is over my shoulder. If I have it on my lap, I can open and close it fairly seamlessly, but when it’s being worn, I find myself having to look down and focus for a minute on the bag. I can open the tab but then need to open the flap and hold it out of the way. This is what happens with any top flap bag, it comes with the style, but I’ve become much more accustomed to (and a fan of) a bag that is easy to access.

Quality + Construction

After I purchased my Pochette Metis and started reading up on it on our forums, I realized a lot of people had major issues with their earlier versions of the bag. There was cracking under the top flap, glazing coming apart, crooked front hardware, and the monogram print lining up awkwardly on the bag. These issues forced many to return their bags and try a newer version to see if it would hold up better, while also forcing Louis Vuitton to make some changes to the famed bag.

I am lucky to report that my bag hasn’t had any issues so far. I don’t have any problems with any areas, each has held up well. My glazing is all in place and there’s no cracking on the leather or misalignment either. I do think every bag you purchase should come close to perfect (though I expect slight imperfections), but the issues I read about were ones that would make anyone feel disappointed and want to return the bag. Also, my bag was made in the USA if anyone is wondering.

I’ve always loved Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas because it’s both sturdy and easy to clean, and especially at a time like this, I find this canvas great for daily use. The bag is completely up to my standards with everything looking like what I’d expect from a Louis Vuitton bag. The interior features dark brown microfiber lining which feels really nice and doesn’t show dirt or wear easily.

Price + Value

Price and value is always hard to judge for me, as I find majority of bags to be fairly expensive in the scheme of things and that makes it hard for me to assign a value. In this case, I do think this bag should be $400 less. A few years ago, the bag was $1,830, so there has been a couple price increases that impacted this design. The bag retails for $1,980 right now and I think it’s better suited around or below the $1,500 range for the materials used as well as the size of the bag. Keep in mind this isn’t a leather bag, it’s canvas, and though it’s well-known Louis Vuitton canvas, it doesn’t change the fact of what it is. The good news is you can use this bag for a long time, and many use it daily. Though I think canvas should cost less, on the flip side you could argue that it will hold up really well because of the material.

While this bag is typically hard to come by, since the pandemic Louis Vuitton has released more stock online and the bag is currently available to place in your cart. Purchase the Pochette Metis for $1,980 now.

Staying Power

Despite the flaws I find with this bag, it is an incredibly popular bag beloved by many. Keep in mind, any review I share will always be based on aspects that are important to me, which may not be the same for you. Plus, you can put an asterisk next to all of this because I clearly thought this bag was much larger and that was totally my own user problem. While I can tell you things I find wrong with it, it’s a bag that I didn’t for a second think of returning. All of that aside, I totally understand why this is such a popular bag. The style pairs classic with casual so well while delivering all of the iconic Louis Vuitton nods we love.

This bag will forever be a very popular design, maybe not making it into the most classic of all LV bags, but a very recognizable and wearable option from the House. Monogram canvas is easy to wipe down (also a big plus in this pandemic time we find ourselves in) and the bag while modern, offers a timeless appeal.

Overall Rating

This bag is typically not readily available online, but right now I’ve seen it able to be added to cart off and on for the last few months. Prices on bags only continue to rise, so if you love this bag and have some money set aside for a bag purchase, you could nab one now at LouisVuitton.com or pre-loved from Fashionphile.

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