When the Louis Vuitton Petite Boite Chapeau Bag debuted, I was at first very excited, and then somewhat less so. The bag looked to me like a perfect intersection of trend and heritage: Louis Vuitton, built on a reputation of exemplary travel pieces, had shrunk down a hat box to handbag size, fitting in perfectly with a recent spate of super-structured round bags. Not all trends are perfect for all brands, but this one seemed ideal for Vuitton. Then, the bag came out, and I realized that even the monogram version would cost over $4,000, and it would hold basically nothing. Hmm.
Those, uh, challenges were because of the Petite Boite Chapeau’s small, super-structured design—the bag was built like a tiny piece of luggage, which made it both expensive and not super functional, even if it looked great. [And it does look great.] My mixed reaction to the bag must have been fairly widespread, because now we have the Louis Vuitton Boite Chapeau Souple Bag, which is a less expensive, more functional take on the original.
The key word here is “souple,” which is French for “flexible,” which is exactly what this bag is. Instead of the ultra-rigid construction of the Petite Boite Chapeau, the Boite Chapeau Souple is constructed more like a casual day bag, with soft sides and a zip-top closure, instead of the original’s clamshell structure. The interior of the bag is lined in light-colored microfiber, instead of the original’s detailed lambskin lining, and it has an interior slip pocket—another thing its predecessor lacked.
Another key word is one that’s missing: “petite.” It’s an accurate descriptor of the first bag, which, at under seven inches wide, will fit an iPhone 8, but not an iPhone 8 Plus. This new version, in addition to being more flexible, is also wider, at nearly nine inches wide by nearly eight inches tall. Not only will it hold your bigger phone, but you can get your sunglasses, wallet and other essentials in there more easily, too.
A big design feature of the Boite Chapeau Souple is the strap, which is completely different than that of its predecessor. Instead of clipping on and off at the ends and adjusting with a buckle, this strap buckles at both ends; when the strap is adjusted shorter, like a more conventional shoulder bag, the extra strap length dangles like a minimalist tassel.
Pricing on this bag is much more consumer-friendly than the Petite Boite Chapeau, which will set you back $4,200 for the monogram version. The Louis Vuitton Boite Chapeau Souple Bag, meanwhile, is priced at $2,200 in monogram canvas, which is the only material it comes in so far.
Because it can get pretty confusing identifying between the various designs that are currently offered under the Boite Chapeau family, this post will aim at addressing them all in a brief run-through, before going into this beauty proper.
It all began with the Petite Boite Chapeau, a modern-day handbag that was created as a reinterpretation of Louis Vuitton’s iconic Hat Box. From the almost rounded body to the adjustable leather top handle and S-lock closure, the Petite Boite Chapeau was truly built for the everyday, coming in a structured shape and with an additional long leather strap which allows for cross-body carrying. Over time, it came in miniaturised sizes like the Mini Boite Chapeau and Boite Chapeau Necklace, both of which come in a semi-structured body that’s cute as a button.
The ‘souple’ [or supple] version was introduced for Fall-Winter 2018, where Nicolas Ghesquière created it to be the soft alternative to its predecessors. It came with double zippered closures that made it easy to reach for your contents within and a strap punctured with several holes so the length can be adjusted as you please, giving you different options to carry it. Some of you found the size a tad too big and bulky, which probably explains why Louis Vuitton introduced the Boite Chapeau Souple PM, one that’s part of the brand’s Spring-Summer 2020 line-up that’s now available in boutiques and online as well.
Measuring just 17 cm by 16 cm, this lovely compact bag will be able to house your absolute essentials while staying chic and adorable all at once. It comes without the Louis Vuitton lock and luggage tag, allowing the bag to stay lightweight even when it’s fully loaded. The icing on the cake would be the fact that it’s priced significantly lower than its bigger sister, even though both of them come in a similar shape and silhouette. The other plus point? The strap can be adjusted to give a drop length ranging from 42 cm to 56 cm, so you can wear it high on the waist or low on the hip, giving you two looks for the price of one.
And speaking of price, the Boite Chapeau Souple PM priced at SGD2340 each is currently available in Monogram Canvas with aged natural cowhide trim. Only time will tell if it will come in options like Monogram Reverse or Monogram Giant, so keep your fingers crossed and stay tuned for more information on that.
Is Louis Vuitton real leather?
Yes, nearly all Louis Vuitton bags are genuine leather at least along the handles and trim. The remainder of their coated canvas bags is PVC-coated cotton canvas, but leather is the sole material used to make some Louis Vuitton handbags, wallets and luggage pieces.
What is Louis Vuitton canvas made of?
The Classic Canvas: Louis Vuitton's Signature Material The canvas is made of cotton, coated with a layer of PVC for added durability and resistance to water, stains, and scratches. Examples of Louis Vuitton bags made from coated canvas include the ever-popular Speedy, Neverfull, and Alma bags.
Are Louis Vuitton bags vinyl?
Nearly all Louis Vuitton bags are made from leather or feature leather trims such as handles. One of the main misconceptions, however, is that Louis Vuitton canvas [the monogram, Damier Ebene or Damier Azur prints] is made from leather. The monogram canvas is made from a vinyl with a coating over it.