Bonjour de Paris! For months, I have been going back and forth between whether I want a Goyard St. Louis or FLP Daily Battle. Planning this trip to Paris, I knew that no matter what, the purchase would be to the best advantage made on either one since it's cheaper here vs. shipment to the US. Being able to see everything IRL is worth the trip! Plus, there are all these beautiful, delicious macarons to enjoy in person!
At Goyard, the main front door and queue on the sidewalk reminded me of Black Friday frenzy of pre-holiday madness! The queue is to limit consumer volume inside, I guess.
I was too impatient to deal with that, so I walked a block down to FLP. Down the street on Rue de Cambon (near Chanel)...
Inside the FLP store on Rue de Cambon I was floored by how beautiful the product is in person. Once inside, the experience was instantly pleasant, the SA's want to share the history of FLP, and they spoke of the color connections to France, and how the products are made in France. Some notes I learned:
- For what it's worth, some FLP collections are indeed made outside of France -- i.e. the products with yellow trim -- but the Daily Battle Totes is the FLP classic tote - are/will always be made in France, so I've been told.
- The SA Christopher told me that while FLP does have a location in Galeries, he said the Rue de Cambon boutique is a far more "true" FLP experience. I spent the most time figuring out what color to choose.
- Each of the FLP colors are very beautiful, deeply muted, you honestly can't go wrong.
- Size: I tried the Daily Battle tote -- both the Medium and Large. Medium is close is width but slightly taller to Goyard's St. Louis PM, the Large is literally the same size as the Goyard's St. Louis GM.
- Strong corners: Leather corners on the bottom add strength to the base of the tote. Nice.
- Handles: I love how the handles are adjustable on the DB's, make it longer for large weekend packing, make it shorter for more close fit. Historical tidbit: There are 17 holes on the handle -- a tribute to the 1717 date of FLP's start.
- Inside: There's a d-ring inside -- perfect for attaching one of the FLP "POMPOM" tassel key chains (110E with VAT) or Pouches.
- Styling: FLP styles the POMPOM tassel keychain as hanging outside the tote, as a way to keep the tote "closed" -- as a security measure, i.e. riding on Metro trains you must be en garde of pickpockets! I attached my LV cles to the D-ring for easy access to coins and Metro tickets. The FLP tag on the inside can be tabbed over the top, to slightly tuck the top of the bag. I like how the lining is black (vs. white canvas in the St. Louis). Pop in the side gussets to mimic LV Neverfull's less-wide footprint. I like this look when the tote isnt very full.
- Pricing: 690EU includes VAT. FLP did the paperwork for me to get a 12% back at airport.
- Decision: For the price vs. size, I went big with the Daily Battle in Large, and, after going back and forth with neutral colors, I went with Green.
- Followup: After a few days, I walked Paris with my new Daily Battle.. into Goyard at Printemps, and these other customers asked the Goyard SA about my FLP bag! I think these customers actually left the counter in search for FLP instead!
I have a few days left here in Paris, so I may still check out Goyard for the PM size, but for now I'm pretty happy with FLP and look forward to bring home a stylish, truly French-Parisian tote that no one [I know] has back home!
