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Louis Vuitton Speedy with Strap

Thursday 30 June 2011
I can't believe I'm saying this but ever since Sofia Coppola reworked the Speedy bag, I've started to fall in love with the brand again. After seeing the logo everywhere including on young teens, I'd steered far away from the brand. I felt that the luxury brand was losing its exclusivity when I saw a 13 year old carrying a pochette. Am I a bag snob? Probably. I wasn't pleased with some of the shoddy workmanship I'd seen. However, I've always had a soft spot for the Louis Vuitton Speedy bag. My very first LV bag was a Monogram Speedy purchased for a pittance on eBay. Sure it was well worn with gazillions pen marks on the lining but I thought it was such a classy bag.

Before long, I decided I MUST have an Epi leather Speedy but in red which hubby kindly gifted me on my birthday. By this time, I'd long gotten rid of my tatty Monogram Speedy but the Epi leather model was driving me crazy as it was so stiff. I could barely pull apart the bag to shove my things in. Forget about trying to get A4 size folder in.

I remember excitedly visiting various Louis Vuitton stores and making several middle aged sales associates to model their favorite bags. Luckily, most of them was kind enough to humor me on my quest to buy my mother her very first Louis Vuitton bag and I wanted to get it right. I still recall the day vividly. I'd gotten off the train having been on a 27 hour journey from Beijing to Hong Kong in my tatty backpack, dirty cargo pants and sneakers caked with mud - and walked straight into a Chanel store. The sales associates took one look at me with barely disguised disdain and refused to entertain me. Fine. Off I went to Louis Vuitton which was located directly opposite the store. The manager waved me in immediately and hurriedly asked for a sales associate to serve me. The service was incredible. You would've thought I was buying a boatload of bags instead of one measly Speedy. When I went back into the Chanel store with my Louis Vuitton shopping bags, the two snobby sales associates were falling over themselves to serve me. Call me childish but I couldn't help turning the table on them and walked out without a word.

My only problem with the Speedy was that it didn't come with a strap. I'm not all that great with hand carry bags, often preferring to wear a bag across my body to keep both hands free. Now Louis Vuitton has piqued my interest again by introducing a Speedy with strap attached. Both the 30 and 35 sizes are perfect for traveling or everyday wear. The downside to the similarly designed Sofia Coppola bag is the weight but this being a canvas, it'll be far light and cheaper too.


Louis Vuitton Speedy with Strap £640

21 comments:

  1. I've pretty much sworn off LV bags but this is one I saw and went - Hmmmmm!!!! I still love my beat up Speedy 30 but the strap here is so functional. I think LV got it right with this one!

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  2. Same here. The strap made all the difference. You have your Speedy 30 after all these years? Do you still use it?

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  3. omg I saw soo many girls in Paris/London wearing this and I am in love with it too! It just looks so chic and functional...but it'd be my first LV in YEARS.

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  4. I'm planning on hitting a LV store sometime soon just to check it out. I've tried on the SC bag but boy, is it heavy or what. I've been studying the photos of this on TPF as if I'm sitting for an exam.

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  5. I use my Speedy a lot! It's my "throw around bag" and it has worn like iron. Now that I have the new Bolide, I know I will use it a bit less.

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  6. I'm looking for a bag that's spacious enough for my camera gear along with my junk. It'd be great if it's big enough as an overnight bag too so that I don't abuse my Le Pliage too much. BUT it needs to be light enough as I don't want to damage my shoulder any further.

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  7. hi ccc! i've been thinking of getting this bag as it's so functional compared to a nightingale that i've been dreaming to get.the only downside is the logo.do u mind it? if u don't then it's a go for me! i'm always inspired by ur daily inputs on everything and i love ur photography tips too! ~ g ~

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  8. i have a speedy 25--the 30 would've been a better size but it sags in the bottom after a while. besides i saw many young girls using the 25 n thought tt i can pass the bag to my girl if i didn't like it but she dislikes LV! anyway, of the 3 LV bags i have, i like the speedy the most so yes, go for it. i suppose i can buy the strap?

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  9. G, thank you taking the time to write! You're so sweet. I'm glad you like the photos :) I think the Givenchy nightingale is definitely more under the radar but the Speedy's more practical. I'm of the same opinion. The only problem I've got is the monogram.

    Terri, I've got the 25cm for my mom but I'm thinking that the 30cm is more practical. The weirdest thing was I tried to buy a strap for her Speedy when we were in HK but the silly SA wouldn't sell it to me. She said I'd spoil the bag if I hook the strap on the handle. I've seen others doing it but I'm unsure if it had an adverse effect on the canvas.

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  10. Yup, don't use a strap unless it's on this new version. Unlike the Alma (or like a H Kelly), the Speedy doesn't have the little extra strap loops, only the hardware that attaches the handles. If you hook a strap on that handle hardware, over time, the weight of the bag will completely wear down the brass and make an unsightly grooves. I've seen it and it's not pretty. :(

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  11. Oh no :( Thank you for the tip, LL. Just as well I didn't get the strap for my mother.

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  12. HI, thanks so much for the post on the speedy. It was one of the first luxury bags that I bought like a decade ago and used it until the zipper broke off (am questioning the quality after that). But now i use it to bring my Canon Rebel camera as it fits perfectly in there, or to lug around kids stuff when we go out. Have a great weekend!

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  13. MMC, you managed to put your DSLR in there? You're making the bag sound more and more attractive to me :)

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  14. LV was the first luxury bag I ever got, so I'll always have an affection for it. You're right, though... the brand has gotten so ubiquitous that it's lost some of the appeal.

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  15. The Blond, they're churning out so many different styles per season that I'd lost count. Too bad they no longer service their bags unless it's for repair.

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  16. I was comparing the LV SC PM with a similar epi leather bag. and the workmanship of the epi leather bag was horrible compared to SC PM, especially the inner fabric linning.

    PS: In case you are wondering why I post comments during ungodly hours - I am on the other side of the globe. Singapore.

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  17. Ahh...you've answered my question. Hermes in Singapore are notorious for being difficult with new clients who want to purchase their holy grail bags. I was shocked when I turned the new bags (at the store) inside out to look at the workmanship. The stitching were haphazardly sewn on and crooked. The seams were tucked in well. For the amount of money they charge, I expect REALLY decent finishing. I adore the SC PM and was desperate to get one. I'm hoping to see one at my local store soon.

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  18. I just visited the Hermes store on Friday and they were quite nice, but they have rather limited offerings. There was only 1 wallet in stock, a red long zip wallet. and the there were about 5 cashmere shawl-size scarves in stock.

    FYI, the SC PM cost SGD6,000 here. Speaking of LV, that is the ONLY bag I will ever buy from them in future. The rest of the range are simply too gaudy for me. But I have to give them credit for their customer service now, it's must improved.

    I had a bad experience with them before. I bought a black epi purse from them, and the buckle was tarnished. They refused to exchange it when I went back the next day. The manager had the cheek to says that's normal as SG's weather is humid, hence metalware gets tarnish very quickly.

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  19. I'm not surprised at the limited selection you get in Singapore. Wow, the SC PM is really pricey in SG. I haven't purchased anything from LV for many many years now. I'm glad to hear that the service is better. I found the SC PM which I adore to be too heavy once I put in my camera gear. I guess my only option is the monogram canvas which I still have a slight aversion to.

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  20. no no no, not the monogram! I have a monogram Palermo PM (strangely it's not a light bag), and another 2 Damiers (can't remember their names) that I've slashed in the inner corners of the world. I find them so flashy and gaudy now.

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  21. That's too bad. LV Monogram is a classic. :(

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