History of a Classic: Ultimate Guide to the Louis Vuitton Neverfull

History of a Classic: Ultimate Guide to the Louis Vuitton Neverfull

With a vast interior that seems impossible to fill, the Louis Vuitton Neverfull will never be be overwhelmed by its contents, or by its success. This bag has been raved over for its versatility and volume, it has been the brand's most popular Tote bag and one of the most sought after models in the preloved luxury market since its conception in 2007.

Beneath its apparent lightness, the delicate looking cowhide handles have been reinforced with double stitching and thick over-stitched chapes that are able to support more than two hundred pounds of weight. It has been intelligently designed to fulfill the daily needs of its users: from the beach to the office, from the countryside to the city, the Neverfull can withstand any challenge.

Scarlett Johansson for Louis Vuitton S/S 2007

From the busy career woman to the hard-working mom always on the go, the LV Neverfull has been often spotted on the arm of huge celebrities such as Sofia Vergara, Reese Witherspoon, Katie Holmes and Hillary Duff.



History of the Louis Vuitton Neverfull

It is said the the Neverfull, first introduced in 2007, had been created to compete with Goyard's popular St. Louis tote bag. Despite the similar appearance of the 2 bags, Louis Vuitton's iconic bag unexpectedly has an even longer history.


Like the Noé, the Neverfull has visible connections to the Sac Marin navy bag and its parent, the Sac A Linge laundry bag. Some resemblance can be traced back to its cylindrical form, its small leather hands and the body's soft canvas. Its roots can be also traced back to the wardrobe trunk and the streamer trunk: these two lineages resulted in a new generation of bags with a basic rectangular form, one of which was the Neverfull.

Woman Carrying a Louis Vuitton Noé

The Neverfull is also a close relative to the Sac Plat, as they both take form of rectangular prisms that open at the top and have identical opposite sides. Functionally, though, they do have opposite characteristics: the Neverfull is more suited for a relaxed, maritime setting while the Sac Plat is more appropriate for an urban, professional context.


Model Carrying a Louis Vuitton Neverfull DE


Since the Neverfull has become the most popular tote bag under the LV brand, it has been released in a variety of materials, colors and prints: Epi leather, Damier canvas, Mini Lin, Monogram Empreinte, as well as other Limited Edition versions, including Limited Edition versions by Stephen Sprouse, Takashi Murakami, Richard Prince, Yayoi Kusama, Kansai Yamamoto and other seasonal variations.



Almost impossible to fill: Guide to the LV Neverfull sizes

As we have seen, down to the smallest detail, the Louis Vuitton Neverfull has been designed to make it the perfect tote bag: elegant yet effortlessly practical. In the words of Nicholas Knightly, ex Director of Leather Goods designs, the LV Tote has "exactly the right length from the shoulder to be comfortable and give a sensation of intimacy and closeness to the body".

The Neverfull is made with the same exquisite craftsmanship as other iconic Louis Vuitton bags like the Keepall or the Noé, which means that your beloved bag is as sturdy as can be. The canvas on the main body is made of waterproof, scuff proof and tear proof material, making it exceptionally durable.

The Neverfull's interior pays homage to its noble lineage with a striped lining that recalls the canvas of the trunks of the past: while is not widely publicized this bag has been designed to be completely reversible. The laces on the sides can be also tightened to create a more compact sophisticated city bag and, like the Sac Plat, it can also be flattened to slip tightly in a suitcase.


Having been released for the first time in 2007 as seasonal bag, the Neverfull might not have as long a history like the Alma or the Speedy but since then it has been re-released in a multitude of new materials and styles. In 2013, Louis Vuitton updated their signature tote to include a detachable accessories pouch, and they began introducing additional interior lining colors too. The pouch was so popular that it is now a highly sought after item on its own.


The Neverfull has only ever been available in three sizes: PM, MM and GM, all perfectly suited for everyday use.

Style Measurements
Louis Vuitton Neverfull PM 11.4” x 8.7” x 5.1”
Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM 12.6” x 11.4” x 6.7”
Louis Vuitton Neverfull GM 15.6” x 12.8” x 7.9”


Considering its durability and popularity, the LV Neverfull is relatively affordable for a high end designer bag: retail prices range from as little as $1240 to over $3200 for special limited editions, while preloved models usually start around $650 depending on condition.

When shopping for a vintage Neverfull Tote Bag we recommend you pay special attention to the condition of the leather straps and the vachetta lip at the opening of the bag, as those areas will get the most wear in every day use.



The many styles of the LV Neverfull

Despite its short history, the Neverfull has been released in a myriad of different colors and materials over the years. Let's take a look at some of it most inspired looks!

Louis Vuitton Turquoise Monogram V Neverfull
1) Turquoise Monogram V Neverfull
Released in Summer 2015
Original retail price $1390
Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami MOCA "Hands" Neverfull
2) Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami MOCA "Hands" Neverfull
Released in Fall/Winter 2007
Original retail price $940
Louis Vuitton Rose Denim Monogram Stone Neverfull
3) Rose Denim Monogram Stone Neverfull
Released in Spring/Summer 2012
Original retail price $2640
Louis Vuitton Jeff Koons A Wheatfield with Cypresses Neverfull
4) Jeff Koons A Wheatfield with Cypresses Neverfull
Released in Spring/Summer 2017
Original retail price $3200
Louis Vuitton Kansai Yamamoto Monogram Kabuki Neverfull
5) Kansai Yamamoto Monogram Kabuki Neverfull
Released in Fall/Winter 2017
Original retail price $1570
Louis Vuitton Sepia Monogram Idylle Neverfull
6) Sepia Monogram Idylle Neverfull
Released in Fall/Winter 2010
Original retail price $1200
Louis Vuitton Blue Monogram Escale Neverfull
7) Blue Monogram Escale Neverfull
Released in Spring/Summer 2020
Original retail price $2170
Louis Vuitton Summer Trunks Neverfull in Damier Azur
8) Summer Trunks Neverfull in Damier Azur
Released in Spring/Summer 2018
Original retail price $2720
Louis Vuitton Game On Neverfull
9) Game On Neverfull
Released in Spring/Summer 2021
Original retail price $2170
Louis Vuitton Grace Coddington Catogram Neverfull
10) Grace Coddington Catogram Neverfull
Released in Spring/Summer 2019
Original retail price $1930




How to tell if your Neverfull bag is authentic

1) Louis Vuitton heat-stamped details

The main Louis Vuitton company heat-stamp is very important for authentication, just by looking at it often times it is possible to determine if a bag is authentic or a fake. The lettering should be very crisp and the letters should be perfectly aligned. The Os should be very round and look bigger than the L, and the Ts should be placed very close, almost touching.


2) Louis Vuitton hardware

In general, most fake Louis Vuitton bags will have very poor-quality hardware, often times it’s just metal coated plastic. Authentic hardware should be constructed in high quality metals and have clean and crisp lettering.


3) Louis Vuitton date code

All Louis Vuitton bags before the early 1980s did not come with a date code. But most Louis Vuitton bags currently in circulation will have a date code either on interior tags or directly on the interior linings. The Neverfull has it's date code usually on a chape or even directly on the side of the strap. This placement can cause the date code to wear off with use but there should still be some remnants even if the letters have been rendered illegible.


Conclusion

Despite its short history, the Louis Vuitton Neverfull was an instant classic, both with passionate fashionistas and those looking for a more down-to-earth everyday bag. The Neverfull is durable, practical and, among all, stylish.

Being one of the most sought-after designer bags on the market, there are many high quality preloved and vintage Neverfull bags waiting to find a new home. Being extremely popular and among the more reasonably priced items in Louis Vuitton’s collection, making it a smart choice if you want to start investing in designer bags.


Either if you are looking to start collecting high-end luxury bags or if you are looking for that one special item to elevate your day to day outfits, we cannot recommend it highly enough!



Unfortunately, when you look for popular Louis Vuitton bags there is always the risk of running into counterfeits or “fakes”. It is therefore important that you shop your preloved Neverfull bag from a trusted supplier with a substantial history of dealing with vintage luxury.
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