Louis Vuitton Handbags: Iconic Styles and Price Guide

By: White Line Projects

As one of the most prestigious luxury brands today, French fashion house Louis Vuitton is a symbol of quality, durability and practicality, and is synonymous with style and innovation. These core values were essential to Louis Vuitton himself when he began designing luggage suited for travel in 1854. Advances in transportation and the expansion of the travel industry generated demand for now iconic Louis Vuitton accessories such as Louis Vuitton handbags and the Louis Vuitton trunk. Louis Vuitton continues to appeal those looking for a unique design and willing to pay for the quality of make and material.

When considering investment pieces such as Louis Vuitton handbags and purses, as a rule, classic styles such as the Louis Vuitton Neverfull or the Louis Vuitton Speedy will always be in demand and maintain their value more than seasonal bags. However, keep an eye out for limited editions. For example, the limited edition show bags (produced for runway collections) are highly sought after, while exotic leathers such as crocodile, alligator, ostrich and snakeskin are the ultimate prize for any collector. The condition of the bag will also greatly affect its value. Read on to learn more about the different kinds of Louis Vuitton purses and handbags available today and the prices they fetch at auction.

Iconic Louis Vuitton Handbags

The evolution of Louis Vuitton handbags are closely linked to the users’ needs. The first soft-sided bag introduced was the Louis Vuitton Keepall bag, and it remains one of the best-selling travel pieces today. Fashion specialist Meg Randell from Chiswick Auctions says the Keepall is  “always popular – a good sports bag or weekend bag.” She also recommends vintage Louis Vuitton backpacks, noting that the Montsouris are popular at auction and can fetch between £300 for a monogram version to over £1,500 for a limited edition.

A popular fashion staple, traveling Louis Vuitton handbags can be found in wide range of designs, formats, and leathers. Introduced in 1985, Epi Leather was the first of Louis Vuitton’s permanent collection of leather bags. There are also variations of the Louis Vuitton Damier, with Damier Azur introduced in 2006, followed by the Damier Graphite in 2008. The Louis Vuitton Monogram lines are also popular, with Multicolore introduced in 2003 in collaboration with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami; the rare Mini Lin. Classic Monogram styles can be found in auction from £300, but you can expect to pay up to to £2,000 for an artist collaboration edition, such as Yayoi Kusama or Stephen Sprouse.

Below, explore 5 of the most popular Louis Vuitton handbags available in the market today.

1. Louis Vuitton Speedy

Created in 1930, the Louis Vuitton Speedy is a smaller version of the Keepall, the first handbag designed for everyday use and one of the most popular, as Randell notes. Originally released only with the LV Monogram canvas and without shoulder straps, today it is available in different sizes, styles, colors, and leathers, such as the Louis Vuitton Idylle Canvas Speedy, the limited edition Nano Speedy and the Speedy Bandouliere. The classic shape remains the same; the design has been untouched for the past 80 years.

Occasionally the Speedy bag can be found for less than £100, however, prices typically range from $200 to $3,000 for limited editions, such as the World Tour or Monogramouflage.

 

 

 

2. Louis Vuitton Noé

The world’s first bucket bag, the Louis Vuitton Noé was originally designed in 1932 to transport wines and champagnes. A popular “everyday bag,” the Noé can be found in many different materials and prints, from Damier Azur to Monogram and its variations, as well as a range of Epi Leather colors.

Depending on the style, the size, and the era of the handbag, Louis Vuitton Noé bags range from £192 to £700, with some exceptional pieces fetching higher prices.

3. Louis Vuitton Alma

Introduced in 1934 as the Louis Vuitton Squire bag, it was coined as “Alma” in 1955. Its features include double zips with a padlock, two inside compartments, leather key tag, Toron handles, an additional shoulder strap, and protective bottom studs. Contemporary versions of this Louis Vuitton handbag are available in different leathers, prints, and sizes. In 1992, it was launched in Monogram canvas, which has appeared in different finishings, fabrics, and colors since.

Louis Vuitton Alma bag prices range from as little as £190 to over $3,000 for exotic leathers and limited editions bags.

Image 13: Louis Vuitton Cognac Alligator Alma PM Bag
Heritage Auctions, Beverly Hills, California (September 2014)
Estimate: $10,000 – $15,000
Price Realized: $9,375

Image 14: Louis Vuitton Miroir Argent d’Ore Monogram Vernis Leather Alma GM Bag
Heritage Auctions, Beverly Hills, California (December 2014)
Estimate: $1,000 – $2,000
Price Realized: $2,600

Image 15: Louis Vuitton Alma GM Epi Leather Handbag
Dreweatts 1759, Newbury, United Kingdom (December 2016)
Estimate: £300 – £500
Price Realized: £1,054

Image 16: Louis Vuitton Purple Veau Cachemire Leather Alma Bag
Heritage Auctions, Beverly Hills, California (December 2014)
Estimate: $1,200 – $2,000
Price Realized: $1,250

Image 17: Louis Vuitton Alma Bag in Monogram Canvas
Artcurial, Paris, France (January 2013)
Estimate: €300 – €350
Price Realized: €704

Image 18: Louis Vuitton by Takashi Murakami Alma Multicolore Monogram Canvas
Artcurial, Paris, France (June 2014)
Estimate: €400 – €600
Price Realized: €626

Image 19: Louis Vuitton Alma in Brown Damier
Artcurial, Paris, France (June 2014)
Estimate: €500 – €600
Price Realized: €626

Image 20: Louis Vuitton Limited Edition Stephen Sprouse Peach Graffiti Alma, c. 2001
Chiswick Auctions, London, United Kingdom (March 2018)
Estimate: £500 – £700
Price Realized: £480

4. Louis Vuitton Neverfull

Introduced in 2007, Randell says that more recent Louis Vuitton handbags have proven to be popular. With its supple leather, non-rigid sides, durability, attached wallet, all the while being completely reversible, the Louis Vuitton Neverfull was designed with the modern woman in mind. This modern design comes in three sizes in the classic LV materials: Damier (Ebene and Azur), Epi leather and Monogram.

Standard monogram versions at auction fetch sometimes half their original RRP (recommended retail price), which is approximately £920. However, the versions that tend to hold their value over time are the limited editions, which can sell for up to $3,250.

Image 21: Yayoi Kusama Louis Vuitton Limited Edition White Infinity Dots Monogram
Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas (June 2017)
Estimate: $1,000 – $2,000
Price Realized: $3,250

Image 22: Stephen Sprouse Louis Vuitton Limited Edition Pink Monogram Graffiti
Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas (June 2017)
Estimate: $2,000 – $3,000
Price Realized: $2,500

Image 23: Louis Vuitton, Monogram, Neverfull
Dreweatts 1759, Newbury, United Kingdom (December 2016)
Estimate: £300 – £500
Price Realized: £744

Image 24: Louis Vuitton Neverfull Mini Lin
Auktionhaus Eppli, Stuttgart, Germany (June 2015)
Estimate: Unavailable
Price Realized: €600

Image 25: Louis Vuitton Neverfull, Damier Azur canvas with leather trim
Chiswick Auctions (December 2016)
Estimate: £400 – £600
Price Realized: £360

5. Louis Vuitton Lockit

Debuting in 1958, the Louis Vuitton Lockit bag was designed as part of a collection of lighter luggage. Named after the bag’s key feature, a leather patch with a padlock on the side of the bag, it became favored by the elite due to this ‘non pick lock’ design.

Contemporary versions include the Soft Lockit Bag, designed with a softer Veau Cachemire leather with optional shoulder strap, making it more lightweight and practical. Colored variations including Framboise, Plum, Magnolia and Silver fetch up to £1,500 at auction, and limited edition pieces such as textured monogram at £2,000, as well as exotic leathers, which sell up to £10,000.

Image 26: Louis Vuitton Red Alligator Lockit MM Bag
Heritage Auctions, Beverly Hills, California (September 2014)
Estimate: $10,000 – $15,000
Price Realized: $12,500

Image 27: Louis Vuitton White Ostrich Lockit MM Bag
Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas (May 2015)
Estimate: $4,000 – $6,000
Price Realized: $3,500

Image 28: Rare Louis Vuitton Gold Perrier Monogram Fascination Lockit Tote, designed by Marc Jacobs
Chiswick Auctions, London, United Kingdom (May 2016)
Estimate: £2,000 – £3,000
Price Realized: £2,000

Image 29: Vertical Lockit bag in Monogram Mirror
Artcurial, Paris, France (October 2011)
Estimate: €1,400 – €1,500
Price Realized: €1,751

Image 30: Louis Vuitton Yayoi Kusama Black and White Patent Dot Lockit MM Bag, 2012
Chiswick Auctions, London, United Kingdom (June 2016)
Estimate: £400 – £600
Price Realized: £1,600

Image 31: Lockit bag by Louis Vuitton in Ivory Suhali Leather
Leonard Joel, Melbourne, Australia (October 2011)
Estimate: AUD1,800 – AUD2,200
Price Realized: AUD1,800

How to Identify Counterfeit Louis Vuitton Handbags

Similar rules for identifying authentic Louis Vuitton trunks apply to Louis Vuitton handbags and purses. Hallmarks of authentic Louis Vuitton handbags include:

1. Louis Vuitton stamping details

• The tail on the L is very short
• The Os are very round and look bigger than the L
• The Ts are almost touching each other, or are so close that it looks like they are touching
• Lettering should be thin, clear, and very crisp
• Study the general font used; it should be aligned perfectly

2. Hardware

In general, most fake Louis Vuitton handbags have poor quality hardware, some even manufactured in plastic. Authentic hardware should be constructed in high quality metals and have clean and crisp lettering.

3. Manufacturing Date Code

All contemporary Louis Vuitton handbags produced from the early 1980s onwards should have date codes located either on interior tags or directly on the interior linings. This also gives the name and place of where the bag was manufactured.

Looking for more? Click here to explore Louis Vuitton handbags available now on Invaluable.

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About Fiona McKay & Xenia Capacete

Fiona and Xenia are fashion curators and exhibit makers, and founders of White Line Projects, a curatorial and creative studio based in London. White Line Projects curates, designs, and produces a diverse range of outcomes including exhibitions, installations and digital experiences, and websites for a wide range of clients in the fashion and cultural sectors. Fiona, Xenia, and the team at White Line Projects bring a diverse combination of skills and background experience ranging from visual communications and 3D technologies to architecture, art history, and exhibition design to theater design and performing arts.