ALMA BB EPI or Balenciaga?

Alma BB in Epi Noir or Balenciaga Neo Classic in Mini

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pestoisthebesto

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Jun 24, 2019
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#1
I’m in Paris and need your help picking between these two bags. They’re a little too similar in size and function for me to justify both either now or later down the road and they are both crossbody and have a top handle.

I’m aware I’m posting in an LV thread so there might be some bias, but maybe somebody who has both or one of these bags can weigh in with their personal experience.

I’m a little conflicted because I’m on the shorter side (5’1) and the Alma with the jacquard strap hangs higher on my body but it still is not adjustable while the Balenciaga is. But on the other hand I feel that the Alma is a classic and more likely to stand the test of time while the Balenciaga might be more trendy?

Which would you pick? I’d like to hear your thoughts on this…thanks!

Bags I currently own:

- small Loewe puzzle in tan
- YSL mini Lou camera bag
- Gucci 1955 horsebit shoulder bag in brown leather

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#2
I am too biased. And I must quote myself: the Épi Alma is the "most Vuitton" bag LV has ever created. An absolute icon.
I can see the practical downsides and why the Balenciaga might work better in certain situations, but it is an Alma, and a Louis Vuitton, and in Épi (you have good taste), and in Noir. It just feels right. Especially if you can get it in Paris :)
 
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#3
BULL said:
I am too biased. And I must quote myself: the Épi Alma is the "most Vuitton" bag LV has ever created. An absolute icon.
I can see the practical downsides and why the Balenciaga might work better in certain situations, but it is an Alma, and a Louis Vuitton, and in Épi (you have good taste), and in Noir. It just feels right. Especially if you can get it in Paris :smile:
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I have to agree. I have an Alma BB in Epi and took it to a fancy shopping mall over the weekend (a rare occurrence for me), and saw a ton of Chanel, Hermes, etc. I felt like my little Alma could measure favorably to any of the bags I saw, at a fraction of their prices. It's a true classic. I agree it's not necessarily the most user friendly bag in the world and I often leave it unzipped, so make sure the functionality works for you. I might suggest getting the Alma in Paris and you can always get the Balenciaga down the road, in a bigger size or a different color (and they can found on discount sites as well).
 
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#4
You can always replace or get another strap (and sell the one that comes with alma if you wish) if that's the only thing doesn't work for you. I don't see this particular Balenciaga stay in fashion for too long. Before I click in, I thought you are referring to another B bag which looks a lot like Alma bb. Either way, I vote for Alma bb, I also have one in Epi leather and love it!
 
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#7
BULL said:
I am too biased. And I must quote myself: the Épi Alma is the "most Vuitton" bag LV has ever created. An absolute icon.
I can see the practical downsides and why the Balenciaga might work better in certain situations, but it is an Alma, and a Louis Vuitton, and in Épi (you have good taste), and in Noir. It just feels right. Especially if you can get it in Paris :smile:
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You make it sound so dang good! I never thought I would consider adding an LV bag to my collection as I always felt that the brand was a little too ubiquitous and maybe even flashy for my personal taste …but I think the Alma BB in Epi could be the quiet, understated LV I’ve been looking for. I don’t think there’s another style in LV that I’d be really interested in (this would be my first) buying and paying full price for.
 
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#8
Mid Century Gal said:
I’m a little biased because I have the monogram Alma BB. Plus I’m currently in Europe now and I brought it with me. So far it’s been really functional and handy.

I’m not a big fan of Balenciaga anyway, so I say go for the Alma BB.
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You’re using it as a travel purse? What are you carrying in it if you don’t mind my asking? I think most of my everyday essentials would fit, but I’d be interested in seeing how it’s packed for travel. I’m currently carrying a Longchamp Le pliage neo XS on my trip and it’s incredibly lightweight, fuss free, and holds a lot!
 
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#9
grace-lee said:
You can always replace or get another strap (and sell the one that comes with alma if you wish) if that's the only thing doesn't work for you. I don't see this particular Balenciaga stay in fashion for too long. Before I click in, I thought you are referring to another B bag which looks a lot like Alma bb. Either way, I vote for Alma bb, I also have one in Epi leather and love it!
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I actually quite like the jacquard strap on this Alma since it’s wide and comfortable - and gives a little oomph to what would otherwise be a low key and understated bag.

If I get this bag, I would be interested in getting an adjustable leather strap with matching hardware.
 
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#10
I vote for the Alma BB, it's very cute and petite. Roomy enough to hold your absolute necessities. The only thing I hate is that the (necessary) loops for the purse strap make the bag look lopsided when carrying over the shoulder. I tried on both the mono, DE, and EPI leather. The silhouette is beautiful and IMO the diff strap options, i.e. wide vs skinny, are super cute. I just couldn't get passed the crooked look at the strap attachments.
 
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#11
I would choose the Alma, but I‘m not a B fan in general. It also depends on what your personal style is - B is more rock chic imo, Alma is very classic. For the rest I absolutely agree with what @BULL said.
Anyway you have to try the bags on to see what works for you. Enjoy your stay in Paris!
 
#12
I am not an LV or a Balenciaga girl and I have neither of these bags. :P

I would choose the alma, mainly because I think the strips of leather tassels on the Balenciaga would bend and curl overtime and that would probably drive me crazy lol.
 
#13
pestoisthebesto said:
You’re using it as a travel purse? What are you carrying in it if you don’t mind my asking? I think most of my everyday essentials would fit, but I’d be interested in seeing how it’s packed for travel. I’m currently carrying a Longchamp Le pliage neo XS on my trip and it’s incredibly lightweight, fuss free, and holds a lot!
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I am using a small zippy wallet that I use for euros in lieu of my larger zippy wallet, my passport holder which I also use for credit cards and my drivers license, my iPhone, compact, two colors of lipstick, my room key, sunglasses and a map. Everything fits perfectly.

When I travel, I don’t like using large bags or a big shoulder bag. It’s too uncomfortable.
 
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#14
I'd pick based on the material --one is epi and one is a softer leather -- major difference and most people will have a preference for one over the other. I'd go with the one that creates a stronger tactile reaction; it'd likely mean I'd enjoy touching it and using it more often.
 
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