Louis Vuitton Montaigne Bag: Honest Review of all Sizes and Leathers

As I'm a designer handbag reseller specializing on Louis Vuitton handbags, I was lucky enough to have pretty much every popular French brand's purse and I love sharing this experience to help luxury lovers to make an important decision regarding their first or next purchase.

Montaigne holds a special place in my heart. I always liked this stylish double-handle shoulder bag. Probably it was all due to my affinity with structured handbags designed to be carried to the office. That's why I want to share an honest review of the purse. Hopefully, if you're considering this bag, it will help you find exactly what you're searching for.

And sorry, there will be no Monogram Canvas Montaigne as I didn't take mod shots at the time. I'm going to mention some of its advantages and downsides of Louis Vuitton canvas nevertheless.

Louis Vuitton Montaigne: BB vs MM vs GM

Before I share my experience with Montaigne bag, let me share a quick size comparison of the three with mod shots.

Here's a comparison table with detailed measurements of the Montaigne bag:

Louis Vuitton Montaigne BB [Vernis leather]

One day I got in stock a Louis Vuitton Montaigne in Vernis leather. I'm not a big fan of Vernis as it catches color transfer quickly, but the purse was pristine and came with a full set so I decided to give it a shot.

Let's start with the good things.

First of all, Montaigne BB is a crossbody bag. With a strong trend towards mini handbags, it now seems to be the most desired Montaigne size. While it holds a lot of everyday items, be aware that its quire narrow in the top part.

One advantages that vernis has over Empreinte is that this leather is lightweight. An Empreinte version of the same style will always be a little more heavy. That's why Vernis is something to consider if lightweight bags are your preference.

Next, a few words about the size itself. It allows you to store a full-sized wallet and a few other small items like a notebook and small organizers.

Overall I liked the size and the long strap that allows you to wear it crossbody, however, I couldn't help but feel a bit insecure because of the open top closure. The clasp doesn't help much here, looking at your purse you can still see your stuff and that just makes me a bit paranoid whenever I come out if the house. Not only because I'm a little worried about the pocket theft, but also because (please don't laugh at me!) I'm afraid I'll jump or rock the purse in a way that I lose my documents or keys.

Louis Vuitton Montaigne MM [Empreinte leather]

Montaigne MM is right in-between the BB and the GM, and it's believed to be an ideal size. With just enough space for larger items, it's not as heavy as her larger sister.

I'm always a bit hesitant towards handbags that have a narrow opening because I know what happens to them after 2 years of use (I have already reviewed them in a video on Artsy handbag). If briefly, canvas on the opening gets cracked almost always. Montaigne has a wide opening, still the issue persists.

Louis Vuitton Montaigne GM [Empreinte leather]

Montaigne GM is the largest size of all. It was discontinued a few years ago and now can only be found preloved. The large size comes with a shoulder strap. You could potentially attach a longer crossbody strap if you have it at home, however, I feel like it's too large to be a crossbody.

Inside-wise, it's just the same as any other empreinte handbags. If you'd love to learn more on what real Louis Vuitton handbags look like inside, check out our article on the possible inside linings.

All in all, if you prefer bags on the larger side, Montaigne GM is something to consider.

Louis Vuitton Montaigne Bag Potential Issues: Which Material to Choose?

So which material to choose when it comes to the Montaigne bag?

If you ask me, I'd avoid Vernis unless that's the material you like the most. It's definitely beautiful, still due to the color transfer I always felt like I need to be extra cautious both with the choice of my clothes and while wearing the purse. For instance, if I wore jeans, they had to be beige or white. I sold because it was something less obliging.

Monogram is obviously the most popular option. Still, as you may have heard, sometimes you might have a few issues with the top part of the bag. Over time cracks may appear on the sides where the canvas folds. Additionally, as the inner part of the handles is often pressed one against another, the glazing might shoe some rubs that don't look good on monogram handles.

With Empreinte items you almost don't have any problems. The only issue you might come across is melted glazing on the handles. This seems to only affect handbags released in 2014-2016 though so if you have a newer item, you're on the safe side.

Louis Vuitton Montaigne alternative: Vosges MM

If you like the style and shape but look for a more exquisite version of the Montaigne, consider looking for a Vosges. Being in production for couple of years only, it was soon discontinued. This shoulder bag was never a popular item.

I still don't get it. Having thrown just one look over this gorgeous beauty, I fell in love. I'm particularly fond of this green olive Empreinte Leather with braided pink details that frame the top. That's one of the handbags that I regret selling most.

If you're purchasing a secondhand Montaigne, going for Vosges can be a smart move since it's much less popular. As you can imagine, if there no one is looking for the purse, there are no buyers, and if there are no buyers, it's pretty hard to sell. If it's hard to sell, sellers will be considering offers and that's where you can get a great deal.

How To Authenticate a Louis Vuitton Montaigne?

If you're purchasing a secondhand handbag, it's especially important to make sure it's authentic. We at Bagaholic have been specializing particularly in Louis Vuitton handbags for over 20 years. Order the service that suits you best and we'll be thrilled to help you to make this special purchase.