Louis Vuitton's beautiful Speedy bag was formerly called L'express. What qualities earned it that name, and why was it changed? Here is the full story of this legendary and timeless bag!
Luxury travel bag designed for short trips
Louis Vuitton, the travel specialist designer
Louis Vuitton initially was a manufacturer of luxury trunks. Before opening his first boutique, he served as the official trunk maker and packer for Empress Eugénie de Montijo, wife of Napoleon III. This shows how top of his category he was! In short, the travel bag is his specialty. However, it was not he who created the Louis Vuitton Speedy vintage bag, but his son Georges. An equally talented leather artisan who took the brand international. In 1930, he designed the Sac L’Express, later renamed Speedy. Its "bowling" shape is modern, and its two comfortable handles allow for easy and graceful carrying, even when the bag is well filled. The Speedy is extremely elegant and designed for quick short trips, as its name indicates. It’s the ideal bag for traveling by train or plane, especially if you need to run to catch your connection. It is not intended to hold your entire wardrobe. The Speedy strikes a perfect balance between capacity and maneuverability. In fact, it has become legendary and now holds a place on the podium of iconic bags thanks to a woman who traveled a lot… Behind every iconic bag is a talented woman.
Audrey Hepburn's favorite bag Vintage Louis Vuitton Speedy
The Speedy bag has always appealed to women. But in the 1960s, when actress Audrey Hepburn chose it as her preferred travel companion, it caused a sensation. The Speedy bag graced magazine covers, and Louis Vuitton stores received more requests than they could fulfill. Audrey Hepburn, symbol of elegance and romance, elevated the Speedy bag to iconic status. She also collaborated with Maison Louis Vuitton to create the Speedy 25 and Nano. Slightly narrower, they better fit her habits. And what’s wonderful today is that all women can find a bag that suits them. Speedy bags come in various sizes. Today, you can find Nano, 25, 30, 35, and 40 dimensions. Originally, the Speedy was made in monogram canvas or checkerboard. Since the 1980s, it has also been available in leather. Since 2010, they have been sold with a removable shoulder strap, allowing you to carry the bag on the shoulder or crossbody for greater freedom of movement. Although Louis Vuitton reimagined the Speedy for the beautiful Audrey Hepburn, he has never stopped revisiting it with artists. Notable collaborations include Takashi Murakami with his colorful canvas, Stephen Sprouse and his rose motif, and Yayoi Kusama with her legendary polka dots. If you’re looking for an authentic bag Vintage Louis Vuitton Speedy qui leur correspond. Les sacs Speedy existent en plusieurs tailles. Aujourd’hui, on trouve les dimensions nano, 25, 30, 35 et 40. À l'origine, le sac Speedy était fabriqué en toile monogramme ou en damier. Depuis les années 1980, vous pouvez aussi le trouver en version cuir. Ils sont également vendus depuis 2010 avec une bandoulière amovible, pour porter le sac à l’épaule ou en bandoulière et profiter d’une plus grande liberté de mouvement. Si Louis Vuitton a retravaillé le Speedy pour la sublime Audrey Hepburn, il n’a jamais cessé de le revisiter avec des artistes. A l’appel, nous retrouvons Takashi Murakami et sa toile multicolore, Stephen Sprouse et son motif de roses ou encore Yayoi Kusama et ses pois légendaires. Si vous recherchez un authentique sac Vintage Louis Vuitton Speedy with these artistic variations, take a look at our collection of exclusives !
Treat yourself to a pre-owned Louis Vuitton Speedy bag !
Better to have a Pre-owned Speedy 25 bag or a size 30?
Which size of Speedy bag should you choose? That’s the toughest question when thinking about a Speedy. The numbers that characterize each Speedy correspond to the bag’s width. So it all depends on your habits! If you prefer to stick to the minimum, a nano or a Speedy 25 will do just fine. If, on the other hand, you like to have extra room, always keeping a rain umbrella, spare tights, or a water bottle close at hand, sizes 30 and 35 are more suitable. Bags Pre-owned Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 can accommodate a bag organizer if needed, just like sizes 35. This isn’t necessary with a nano or a 25. Many Speedy enthusiasts even buy two. It’s so much better to have options!
The Speedy bag comes in canvas, leather, or limited editions
Before settling on a specific size, also consider your style. In the Secondement store, you can find Pre-owned Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 bags in canvas or leather, as well as quite rare limited editions. And then, things get even more complicated! Canvas monogram or checkered bags compete with leather versions in vivid colors (burgundy, brown, black, or blue). And limited edition vintage Louis Vuitton Speedy bags are really very beautiful. Don’t wait too long to decide; these treasures sell quickly!
