The History and Guide of the Louis Vuitton Speedy Bag

Louis Vuitton began as a luggage company in 1854 creating luxury trunks for the wealthy. The Speedy, originally named the 'Express', was released in 1930 as the Speedy 30. The number relates to the width of the bag, so the Speedy 30 measures 30cm across the width of the base. The bag was first released in plain canvas, until around a year later when it was then reimagined in Monogram. The Monogram design was developed, ironically, as a means of combatting counterfeitting, by Georges Vuitton in 1896 (son of Louis Vuitton, who replaced his father and took over the company upon his death in 1892). The Louis Vuitton Speedy bag was an homage to the travel era and based upon the aesthetics of it's predecesser, the Keepall. The Keepall was first introduced in 1924 and originally crafted from cotton canvas. The bags are of a rounded shape with two tubulor leather handles and a durable exterior. Both the Speedy and the Keepall were created to be roomy on the inside, yet maleable enough to fold down and be packed into a suitcase for travel. Their ductile composition means that they can be unpacked and reshaped with little effort, thus ready for use with haste.

The Speedy rose to fame in 1965 when Audrey Hepburn commissioned the Speedy 25 in monogram canvas. Hepburn requested the smaller piece as she wanted a mini version of the keepall, and a smaller piece than the Speedy 30, that she could easily carry daily.

Subsequently to the piece being commissioned, Louis Vuitton released the Speedy 25 into general sale, and it quickly became one of the most popular sizes. Not only this, it also became the iconic luxury staple that it is today. Hepburn was often seen wearing her Speedy 25, and after the success of Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1961 she was a sought after actress and a role model for fashionistas; everybody wanted to copy her style, including the infamous Speedy. At the time, air travel was becoming popular amongst the rich and famous, and the elite were often on the go. The Speedy was therefore the perfect hold-all piece for this lifestyle.

Louis Vuitton Speedy sizes guide

The Speedy isn't a one-size-fits-all kind of bag. You can currently find a variety of Speedy bags in 25, 30, 35, and 40 cm options. However, these are just the classic sizes – Louis Vuitton has also released limited edition pieces, like the Nano Speedy and the Speedy Mini Sac HL!

• Speedy Mini HL

The most compact Speedy, the Mini HL is 6” inches wide, 3” inches tall, and has a depth of 4” inches. The Mini HL can fit your keys, a cardholder, and a tube of lipstick. It has a handle drop of 3” inches and no strap, so it can only be worn as a hand-held model.

• Speedy Nano

The Nano Speedy, which is between the Mini HL and the Speedy 20, is 6.25” inches wide, 4” inches tall, and has a depth of 3.75” inches. The Nano can fit your keys, a small wallet, phone, and one or two makeup compacts. It has a handle drop of 2.5” inches and a strap drop of 22” inches, so it can be worn as either a shoulder or crossbody bag.

• Speedy 20

As the third smallest size, the Speedy 20 is 8” inches wide, 5.1” inches tall, and has a depth of 4.7” inches. The Speedy 20 can fit your keys, wallet, phone and phone charger, and Airpods. It has a handle drop of 3” inches and a strap drop of 20” inches, so it can be worn as either a shoulder or crossbody bag.

• Speedy 25

The Speedy 25 is 9.8” inches wide, 7.5” inches tall, and has a depth of 5.9” inches. The 25 can fit your keys, wallet, phone and phone charger, AirPods, and a small pouch of makeup products. It has a handle drop of 3” inches and a strap drop of 19.3” to 21.7 inches, so it can be worn as either a shoulder or crossbody bag.

• Speedy 30

The Speedy 30 is 11.8” inches wide, 8.3” inches tall, and has a depth of 6.7” inches. The 30 can fit your keys, wallet, phone and phone charger, AirPods, a small pouch of makeup products, an agenda, and either a regular paperback book or an iPad.

It has a handle drop of 3” inches and a strap drop of 18.9” to 21.7 inches, so it can be worn as either a shoulder or crossbody bag.

• Speedy 35

Second largest in size, the Speedy 35 is 13.8” inches wide, 9.1” inches tall, and has a depth of 7.1” inches. The 35 can fit your keys, wallet, phone and phone charger, AirPods, a small pouch of makeup products, an agenda, a notebook and small pencil case, a small bag with toiletries, and a couple of small paperback books or an iPad. It has a handle drop of 3” inches and a strap drop of 18.5” to 21.1” inches, so it can be worn as either a shoulder or crossbody bag.

• Speedy 40

The largest Speedysize in the line, the Speedy 40 is 15.7” inches wide, 9.8” inches tall, and has a depth of 7.5” inches. The perfect travel bag, the Speedy 40 can fit your keys, wallet, passport holder, phone and phone charger, AirPods, a large pouch of makeup products, an agenda, a notebook and small pencil case, a small bag with toiletries, a small paperback book or an iPad, and a MacBook Air with its charger. It has a handle drop of 4” inches and a strap drop of 19” to 21” inches, so it can be worn as either a shoulder or crossbody bag.

The Materials of the Speedy

• Louis Vuitton Coated Canvas Speedy bags

When it was released, the Speedy bag just came in the iconic Monogram canvas, but the options are almost endless nowadays. With a variety of collections that release every year, the materials and designs are limitless. Furthermore, customers can enjoy picking up a piece of history with the limited edition Speedy bags– like the "Louis Vuitton Race" Speedy bag or a customized Monogram Speedy.

Starting with the classics, there are Monogram prints, which include the classic Monogram and the Giant Monogram. Speedy bags do not come in the traditional Monogram Eclipse, but there is a Monogram Sequin Eclipse Speedy 28 version.

Additionally, there are Damier prints which include Damier Azur and Damier Ebene. The Speedy doesn’t come in Damier Graphite, although you can shop Louis Vuitton Keepalls in Damier Graphite. These prints are all applied to Louis Vuitton coated canvas, a durable canvas textile with a plastic coating. When it comes to use, Louis Vuitton coated canvas handbags are more wear-forgiving and ideal for everyday compared to leather.

• Louis Vuitton Leather Speedy bags

Speedy bags also come in many leather versions, including styles in Empreinte leather, Epi (embossed calfskin), plain calfskin, lambskin, and Vernis. Although more fragile, with the proper care, leather Speedy bags can endure lifetimes.

• Special Edition Speedy Bags

Aside from the classic monogram prints and notable leather versions, Louis Vuitton leather and coated canvas Speedy bags also include special editions that are unique to specific collections.

The Interior of Speedy Bag

Depending on which type of Speedy you've got your eye on, the interior may change in appearance. Currently, the interior materials you can find in Louis Vuitton bags are canvas or microfiber. However, these can vary in color! Because of these variations, and particular exceptions, it's best to delve into more specific research through Louis Vuitton.

Sometimes the best things in life are the simple things. And this is the case with the interior of the Speedy bag, which has stayed simple throughout the years to give you the most space! As a result, Speedy bags will typically have a single hanging pocket, like in the photo above. However, you can also find vintage Speedys without any pockets, while newer Epi leather Speedy styles will have two side patch pocket.

Resale Value of the Speedy

If you're thinking about getting a Speedy bag– it's destined to be a much-loved part of your collection! Thanks to the classic nature of the Speedy, their resale value is stable and well-maintained. The popularity of the Speedy bag essentially ensures that resale value of good condition Monogram and Damier canvas bags remain high. A customized bag, or one that's given a heat-stamp with initials, does drop in resale value. Make sure you consider this before treating yourself to a customized bag if you may want to sell it in the future!

Owning a Louis Vuitton Speedy is a luxurious milestone for any bag-lover. Speedys have withstood the test of time and ever-changing trends to remain one of the most popular bags released to date. And now that you've had a crash course in all things Speedy, you can consider yourself an insider to this coveted bag!