I’ve been a dedicated Louis Vuitton lover for the last decade. I’ve owned roughly 10 LVs since I became a serious purse collector and have always regarded my Louis bags as my favorites. I currently have seven Louis Vuitton bags in my collection, and it is important to note that all of them are made of coated canvas. Coated canvas is made of fabric, typically cotton, which is then coated with wax or resin and blasted with heat to seal it. For years, it has been my longtime favorite material for a handbag because the material is lightweight, waterproof, durable, and maintenance-free. I happen to favor LV’s designs because I am a fan of the monogram prints offered in coated canvas, and it is the fashion house’s signature look. In addition to loving the designs, I have always gravitated towards bags made of the tough material because of the ease of coated canvas wear. As a result, the majority of my premier designer bag acquisitions have been Louis Vuitton bags, and they will always hold a very special place in my heart. My first premier designer bag was a Speedy 30, a bag that I intend on carrying for the rest of my life.
Over the course of the last year, I have branched out beyond the realm of Louis Vuitton and coated canvas. I purchased six handbags in 2019, and only one of them was a Louis Vuitton. For some, that is the norm, but for me, this is a major departure from my usual habits in my handbag shopping. What is even more unusual is that I have found myself favoring my new bags made from leather over my Louis Vuitton bags. In fact, I would say I’ve only carried my Neverfulls and Delightfuls a handful of times this year, which has got to be a record low. My bags that were once my go-to, everyday bags are now sitting in my closet untouched.
Rather than reaching for my trusted coated canvas LVs, I have found myself reaching for my leather bags repeatedly. They may be heavier and higher maintenance, but I find that my leather bags elevate my outfits in a way my coated canvas bags don’t. I’ve become a major fan of miminimalistic bags, and find that leather bags are much sleeker than my coated canvas bags. As of late, I am all for bags that have a killer design rather than a flashy logo. It’s been a hard pill to swallow, but I feel as though my handbag preferences have shifted. As little as a year ago, there is no way I could fathom that I wouldn’t favor my beloved LVs. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I am writing off coated canvas altogether, it just seems as though I’ve had a shift in my purse loving heart. It’s funny how much our style can change, especially when we least expect it.
In light of this recent change of heart, I have been debating selling a few of my coated canvas bags. I have been hesitating to do so, as I don’t want to make any hasty decisions, but I have quite a few leather bags on my wish list and my LVs are sitting in their dust bags. I will never stop appreciating the storied history of the LV monogram that is printed on my coated canvas, which is causing me to hesitate. The question remains….is this a permanent change in preference or is there a chance I would regret selling my coated canvas bags?
Have you ever had a complete change of heart with your handbag preferences?
My clients frequently ask me similar questions re: “what should they do” re: a decision they want or need to make. While I ask them questions to prompt them to come up with pros and cons to make the best decision for themselves, ultimately they know what they want to do. My thought is that if you are asking “what to do” you know what you want to do. Sometimes, change is difficult, but trust the decision that you make is the best decision for yourself. Other people may have opinions, but do what works best for you.
I have gotten so sick at looking at LV monogram bags. Everywhere I look, I see them…real ones, fake ones, look-a-likes by other companies. The world is over saturated with them and they now seem so unspecial to me.
All my bags are leather.
1. Are your preferences likely to change back? If you follow fashion I imagine the answer is ”yes” because trends are cyclical.
2. If yes, do you have spatial and financial freedom to keep bags in the closet for an indefinite amount of time?
3. If no, perhaps sell some but keep your absolute favourites so you will always have a canvas option when nostalgia strikes?
My LV bags are a mix of canvas and leather (example: V Tote MM) and I’m happy with them. But the one thing I have turned away from, no matter what the brand, is chain straps. I just don’t want them anymore and when browsing a store or a bag brand’s website, any bag with chain straps (inc those with leather inserts) is on my “no thanks” list. The only exception would be the interwoven leather and chain straps on classic Chanel bags.
Just like financial investments, it’s good to diversify your handbag investments but understand your personal comfort with risk.
I do not plan to sell my purses, so I purchase with commitment and eye timelessness in design. Based on research on PF, it appears other designers have a number of quality issues (sometimes greater than LV) that I am not willing to risk given respective price tag, OR their styles are so trendy it’s appeal is fleeting. I personally am fond of LV but do not understand how some individuals buy the same mono print cut into different ways. LV leather is quite nice.
The Mulberry bag pictured grabbed my attention–I have the same color/leather. While I’m not carrying this particular bag right now, I am carrying my other Mulberry, a dark 2-tone brown, probably due to the sudden fall weather and it just seemed right.
As for the non-leather bag thoughts, I have recently been looking at some LV totes (pre-loved) and just have not pulled the trigger, instead bringing out my old reliable Mulberry. I seem to use my LVs more in the warmer months, maybe I’m worrying about the cold weather cracking the canvas or something.
I don’t think you need to worry too much about the cold weather. For years I’ve dragged my LV Trevi PM all over Swiss alpine resorts in winter and it’s been fine, even when the snow was coming down heavy and fast. The DE canvas has held up beautifully.
I would personally hang on to them for awhile. It could just be a phase or you might end up changing from canvas to leather and back again cyclically instead of staying with just one material. I think it’s nice to have both styles and switch it up. I do tend to prefer leather though.