In your experience which are the most durable styles and why?

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EpiFanatic

VCA bb
O.G.
May 5, 2010
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In another thread people were discussing the current state of LV. I was just wondering what people thought after owning LV for years. What styles have been the most trouble free for you?

My experience:
1. Epi Noe. Structured bag. Workhorse leather.
2. Speedy. No fold where three sides meet.
3. ALma.
4. Brera DE - like a speedy but not
5. Mazarin empreinte - Big flat hard base.
 
I think this can depend on how people take care of their bags along with the design of a bag.
Well made sturdy bags can be destroyed too.

I have had LV bags for over 30 years. Bought and sold, traded or gifted many different bags. Used and loved some, didn’t really like others for different reasons after thinking they were perfec for me. Got tired of certain styles or sizes. One thing that is very important for me is the handles of a bag feeling secure and sturdy versus flimsy and thin. I think my all time favorite impossible to destroy bag is the Original Noe GM. I had my first one for over 20 years. The handle was so secure and comfortable to carry. No matter how heavy the bag was you felt it wouldn’t get damaged. I also bought the Azur GM many years ago. I love the style and don’t feel like the new NeoNoe is constructed very well. The straps and top without the leather trim to protect the seam there to me may eventually cause problems.

My first bag was the Speedy 30 and I have had the denim Speedy, perforated speedym speedy 40 and now only own a Mon Monogram speedy 35. I feel this style is also a fantastic bag. Never had a problem with this design.

The Neverfull is a great bag, I had the mm and gm but got rid of them because I eventually felt the straps were uncomfortable. But the design is great. Love the Dekightful GM design, sturdy strap. Huge bag. Sadly I traded that one too. The Montsouris GM backpack is a very well made impossible to destroy bag. Will last forever. I think the Papilon is a great bag and feel the new design with the longer straps is so much better than the shorter straps. This is a bag design that for me has worked out well with no problems through the years. The discontinued large bucket bag is a great purse but the horrible Peeling lining inside it was a bad design feature.

For my personal tastes I have had quite a few bags with vachetta bottoms and they worked out very well for me. I did not baby my bags but used them and also GASP applied products to protect and clean/condition the vachetta with no problems. I personally feel that vintage bags are made so much better than the ones produced today. While LV might update some designs such as the Noe they also cut corners on the design to make inferior to the original and still charge $$$$. I also think corner folds, thin straps that can’t carry the weight will cause wear quicker. It seems quality control doesn’t exist with people desperate to own the latest it bag so they are willing to settle for defects because it is normal not to have a perfect bag. I also think KV designs using the big metal logos in front and some bright colored crayon type design accents will eventually be prone to chips or falling off and even the metal accent pieces are cheap and look a bit tacky versus the metal of 30 years ago.

I prefer LV canvas over leather for my personal use. I got rid of all my leather bags and never had a desire to buy a leather LV one. To me Chanel and Celine had leather bags that served my needs so I didn’t look at LV. Everyone has their own style and needs in a bag. Pockets, straps, closure, size, color. What works well for one person will. Or make another person love the style.
 
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Honestly all my LV bags/SLGs have help up well. The only bag I have that has significant wear is my Noe - but it’s over 20 years old and in the past month the drawstring finally broke. There’s also cracking in leather trim at the top but it doesn’t bother me. And that’s not even a lot of wear - just the most wear out of what I own.

My 2nd oldest is my petit bucket & that has aged very well. Even the pochette that came with it is still going strong after 12 years of almost every day use. Not even a popped stitch & the zipper is still smooth operating.

3rd oldest is my 11 year old Eva which is still going strong.

I really do believe LV canvas bags age well in general. At least any of the ones I own.

My bags that show the most wear if they’re used a lot are leather (not LV) I’ve given quite a few away to charity after they started to look really worn or misshapen.

I don’t baby my bags but I’m not throwing them on the ground/floor either.
 
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I use my Speedy B Mon Monogram and my Neverfull MM superoften and they have hold up very very well over many years, especially the NF. I don't love the design of the NF, but it really is one sturdy bag and just superpractical.
Also my Zippy compact is supersturdy despite daily use for years. Those pieces are real workhorses and I love them!

My worst buy is the Pochette Felicie. Used a few times and then stored in my closet and lost its whole glazing without me using it and also started having waves in the canvas without any doing (I live in a normal climat - no moisture, overheating etc.). Very disappointing.
 
YES! My 2 Evas (DE and Mono) have been through the ringer (they are my gameday bags, they fit under the NFL stadium protocol and carry all my essentials). They have been my lifesavers.

My Eva has been to many Pats games! And concerts etc. Best event & travel bag (I throw her in my carryon when traveling). I’m positive she has years & years of life left!
 
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Rehashing this thread.
In my experience my impossible to destroy bags are vintage styles where the canvas never cracks, so you can replace the vachetta decades later and have a brand new bag. For me:
1. Original Noe GM. Mine is pre loved from the 80s with vachetta replaced by LV and it looks brand new.
2. Mini speedy HL, early 80s, also replaced vachetta. I think all the speedies are really durable.
3. Keepall, 1990.

The neverfull is a great bag but I can’t pull the trigger because I see a lot of preloved ones with cracked canvas near the top and worn corners which can’t be fixed as there is no vachetta base, though I appreciate that a vachetta base has its drawbacks.
 
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For me, my workhorses are:

1. Noe GM (had full vachetta replaced and it looks brand new)
2. Speedy 40 (also had full vachetta replaced and looks brand new)
3. My recent "new to me" Stephen Sprouse graffiti NF GM...I just love it!
 
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