Mar 25
Louis Vuitton - Old Straps for New
This is a picture of a brand new Louis Vuitton bag courtesy of Eluxury. It is a Monogram Canvas Lockit. Observe that the leather trim is a very light beige shade that is a creamy white.
I can vouch for this colour on the leather straps because my new Speedy 25 started out that way. The thing about this leather is that it is meant to age with time. As it is exposed to the sun and to the oils on your hands and skin it will slowly turn a honey brown, getting darker and darker over time. I love the way the monogram looks with the dark honey brown straps.
I did not like the light leather when I first got the bag, so before I started using it, I would leave it out in the sun to encourage it to age faster. Having light leather trim makes the bag look fake because there are so many fake Louis Vuitton bags out there and you will notice that most fakes have this light trim that never age.
So, one of the true tests of whether the Louis Vuitton bag is real or fake is to check the leather trim. A new Louis Vuitton bag will never have honey brown straps.
Anyway, I was quite surprised when I was told recently about someone (Edit: For avoidance of doubt, it is a mutual friend of mine LC in Canada) who had inherited a Louis Vuitton Petit Bucket bag and she felt that the leather trim was “old and dark. So, she took it to the LV store and had the leather changed to the new pale trim because “I like the light leather trim”. This cost over RM2000. You could get a new LV bag (almost) with RM2000!!
I wonder if she realises that the leather will darken again as she uses the bag. Will she spend another RM2000 in a couple of years to change the straps to “look new” again? Doesn’t she realise that an LV bag with leather that never ages screams “FAKE”!!!
p/s I wasn’t even aware that LV would do this for you so that goes to show you that you learn something new everyday! 
Some other articles you might enjoy:
- Faking it
- LV Madeleine PM or LV Lockit MM?
- Louis Vuitton Summer 2008 collection
- Louis Vuitton’s take on customising your bag
- Celine Boogie Bag with zip
March 25th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I agree with you it’s ridiculously expensive to change the parts like that but if she can afford to do so, why do you beat her up for it? One woman’s wine is another woman’s poison, you like it honey brown doesn’t mean those who like it in light leather trim are tasteless. Not nice of you to kutuk people’s preference like that. I like mine in light trim too, so I’m offended by such arrogant words of yours.
March 25th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
As you said, one man’s meat etc. So you like light trim, great. I never said it was tasteless and I dont see the arrogance in my observation that light trim that never darkens screams fake. Its a fact. And i’m entitled to my views but thanks for yours too.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Hey Paris, thanks for writing about me and my inherited bag. Anyway, it’s my money and my style. I am confident enough to carry what others are so afraid of being mistaken as fake. More importantly, this isn’t about the bag. I’m not a fan of LV anyway. It’s about showing appreciation for the gift and using it the way I like it. Do show some respect for people’s sentimental value for things. I’m not hard up to show off a brand new authentic LV.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Carol: Thank you for your comment. I’m not sure who you are but it looks like my friend isn’t in isolation in what she does. If you are LC and married to a doctor then I’ll chat to you soon. If you aren’t LC then I’m sorry you were insulted. No one was even talking about showing off a brand new authentic lv.
March 27th, 2008 at 9:55 am
[...] Louis Vuitton - Old Straps for New [...]
April 5th, 2008 at 4:58 am
I completely agree. I LOVE the honey brown straps with the monogram canvas!! I only own a couple LV bags..I’m not too fond of the light straps and I try to speed up the aging process as much as possible lol…and considering there are so many fakes out there..it’s easier to distinguish a real from a fake based on the aging leather. Everyone has a preference and this is just mine. There is nothing wrong with the light straps, but personally, it would make more sense to get a new bag if it cost that much to have the straps replaced :S
July 11th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
It took me a year for the leather to change, to a very nice patina on my noe bag, and although I kept it in a closet with the dust bag so not to overuse it still darkened a little. It darkened to I would imagine its final shade so it remains beautiful, and has not darkend any more, it is a dark honey color and I love it! The noe is about two years old. I just got a speedy 35 and I know it will be a while for the leather to change, I did condition it with a leather protector from my local leather place just to keep it from water damage and such. The leather is very sensitive so I hope I dont have to wait a year for the speedy to change.
September 16th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
hi I agree with paris but I don’t want to start any battles.. everyone has their own opinion on how they like their vuitton. Paris I just want to know how to speed ip the process of the patina where I come from people are so ignorant they think every lv monogram canvas is a fake because they r so readily available.. I can tell a real from a fake a mile away even if the straps are as light as my skin.. but others can’t so of anyone has any suggestion on how to super speed my darkening process I would love that! I want them super tanned!! thanks
September 16th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Sarah: The way I’ve heard some people do it is to leave their bag out in the air and sun to age the leather quicker. Try this link. Its very helpful even if a little extreme!
September 16th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
thanks so much for the info!! I will try that I heard some people even put oil on the leather before setting it out in the sun.. is that reccomendable??