Louis Vuitton Neverfull Review

After a little over six months of use, I thought it was finally time I shared my review on the Louis Vuitton Neverfull. I was actually a little surprised how many people reached out to me to ask my thoughts on this bag; it’s a classic style, and aside from the addition of a pochette, it hasn’t changed over the years. But I’m more than happy to throw in my two cents.

Wearing Naadam unisex luxe cashmere sweater; Grlfrnd Denim leather trousers; Everlane slingback heels; Louis Vuitton Neverfull bag; Rosefield watch; Madewell earrings; Muru Jewellery necklace

This bag had actually been on my wishlist for a number of years. I’d always wanted to invest in a canvas piece from Louis Vuitton, and a Neverfull seemed like a good choice. A tote bag always comes in handy. Plus other than a Speedy, it doesn’t get more classic that this from the brand. I opted to go for the Louis Vuitton Neverfull in the Damier Ebene print, with rose ballerine interior, in the MM size. 

So, let’s dive into it.

Why I bought a Louis Vuitton Neverfull

As you’ll probably know, I gave birth to a little baby boy back in March. One of the considerations I was making during my pregnancy was what bag to use as a diaper bag. It was important that it was functional, looked smart, and be something I’d still wear as our son got older. The options were between a tote bag and a backpack – the latter being something I don’t really wear.

If there was ever a time to invest and treat myself, I felt like now was the time. Weighing up my options, the Louis Vuitton Neverfull seemed like the best bet. It’s a coated canvas, so incredibly durable. It’s a classic style that’s been around for years, so something I’m unlikely to tire of. It comes in a few different sizes, so I could opt for the one which best suited my needs. And finally, I liked the idea of splurging on a well made piece that I could use for years and years to come, that would have so many fond memories attached to it.

My Personal Shopping Experience

I’d initially tried to purchase the bag directly from the Louis Vuitton boutique in Sydney. However I was told the combination I wanted was very in demand. There was a waitlist already, and new stock wasn’t due in until early 2020. And that was assuming I could get my hands on one. Knowing our boy was due in March, I wanted to have some time to use the bag ahead of his arrival. So I decided to go down the personal shopper route. I do just want to flag that this does have an additional expense. If I wasn’t in any rush, I would have happily waited until it was available at the boutique.

I decided to reach out to Gab Waller, an Australian-based Personal Shopper who I’d seen come highly recommended. Her celebrity clientele include the likes of Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Hailey Bieber, and Lily Aldridge. She got back to me within a few hours to advise the process, and within less than a day, had managed to source the bag for me. Truth be told, I hadn’t anticipated it would be that quick, though she did say that certain items can take longer to source than others. In addition to paying the cost of the bag, there is a finders fee attached (around $200 AUD in my case). Once the bag was sourced, I had 24 hours to make payment via bank transfer. A few days later, the bag arrived on my doorstep.

Gab is an absolute delight, and if you’re trying to source a tricky-to-find item, I can’t recommend her services enough. You can check out her Instagram here if you want to get in touch.

Design Details

The design of the Louis Vuitton Neverfull is pretty simple. The exterior is coated canvas, giving the bag its distinct durability. The trim and handles are leather; in my case with the damier ebene, it’s a coated leather, while the monogram and damier azure canvas bags have vachetta leather straps (which can be high maintenance). Inside, it’s a large open space, with a zip up pocket on one side. There’s a detachable matching pochette, and a gold clasp which secures the sides of the bag together. The lining is a cotton/nylon, which is easy to care for and can be tidied up with baby wipes. While it’s not the most structured bag, it has a flat base which means it sits up on its own. The drop of the shoulder straps are long enough to throw it over the shoulder, even with a coat on.

Wear + Tear

I’ve been using my Neverfull pretty consistently for the last seven months, and what’s impressed me most is how well its held up. The exterior of the bag is pristine. No marks, scratches or scuffs to the canvas or leather straps. I haven’t made a point of babying the bag, though it has been kept well-stuffed with my belongings, so there isn’t any visible creasing.

Creasing is something I’ve noticed on reviews of older bags, which I think comes down to storage and should drop out with use. The interior also looks great, though it has picked up a bit of dust, and the odd mark. Since taking these photos I’ve given it a wipe down and it looks as good as new. Safe to say, I can really appreciate how remarkably well Louis Vuitton coated canvas pieces hold up. Given how little leather there is, it may seem expensive, but the quality is one of the things that really sets it apart.

Final Thoughts

As I mentioned earlier, I bought this bag to use as a nappy bag for our son. After umm-ing and ahh-ing over the classic monogram or damier ebene, I went with the latter. It felt less loud, and I figured that the all over chocolate hue would be easy to pair with most outfits. Size-wise, I settled on the MM size – the medium option – as this felt large enough to suit my needs. I’m 172cm tall, and it’s a nice size against my frame.

It’s pretty roomy, with enough space for a change mat, nappies, change of clothes for baby, wet wipes, a water bottle, laptop, two notebooks, sunglasses, and my other handbag essentials. I tend to opt for a less is more approach when packing my bags, and have found this relatively difficult to fill up. One thing I will say? I prefer it without a handbag organiser. Personally, I found using one inhibited how I could stack the bag, and made it feel (and look) more full than it actually was.

I took this travelling with me to New Zealand in November last year, stuffing it under the airline seat, and it was the perfect size. Being made from coated canvas, it’s very light when empty, which serves you well if you’re planning on carrying a lot. The clasp at the opening is very handy as it helps to secure all your belongings in place, and is a good compromise as I feel a zipper closure would limit how much you could fit inside.

There isn’t anything I can fault with the wear and tear. To me, it still looks brand new, which after six months of general use is pretty rare. I chose to go with the rose ballerine lining – to match the key holder I have from LV – which I do think is going to show up marks more than the classic red interior. This doesn’t bother me much, as I can easily wipe it down. Plus, I’m not really in the habit of throwing anything too messy in my bags.

Overall, it’s been a wonderful addition to my wardrobe, and if I were to go back in time, I’d go through the whole process again, personal shopper and all. Despite spending more than retail on my Louis Vuitton Neverfull, I’ve been more than happy with it. That being said, if I wasn’t on a time crunch, I would have happily waited for it to be available via the Sydney boutique.

One thing worth noting? It’s not necessary to spend up big on a designer tote bag. While it’s a nice to have, so many mid-priced brands do totes in similar sizes just as well. Some of my favourites over the years have come from Cuyana, Linjer, and Everlane. 

If you’ve been thinking about investing in a Louis Vuitton Neverfull, I hope that this review is helpful for you! If you have any other questions about this bag, drop them in the comments below and I’ll do my best to get back to you asap.