Long gone are the days when an ‘It’ bag would pop onto the fashion scene once a year at most. In modern times, competition for ‘It’ bag status is fierce. Designers eagerly compete with one another to contrive the most covetable, memorable and beloved new design that will capture the hearts of fashion lovers everywhere. For Louis Vuitton’s turn trying to hit the ‘It’ bag bullseye, the house’s creative director Nicolas Ghesquière introduces us to the Coussin bag.
Released as part of the Spring 2021 ready-to-wear collection, the Louis Vuitton Coussin is a slouchy accordion style bag complete with a chunky chain and crossbody strap. Amongst the sea of new LV bags on the runway that season, the Coussin stood out. The style was immediately lauded as a must-have bag to get your hands on for spring.
The design appeared on the runway in a selection of colours in Monogram-embossed leather and croc print. But the bag is currently only available to buy from Louis Vuitton in the Monogram print. I’ve been able to get my hands on this new style in the MM size in khaki.
In this post, I’m going to give you all the details on this new LV release and explore whether it’s worthy of the ‘It’ bag status it is anticipated for.
ABOUT THE LV COUSSIN BAG...
- Monogram-embossed lambskin
- New gold-colour or silver-colour Edge Chain and thick crossbody strap
- Gold-colour hardware
- Zip closure
- 3 inside compartments
- Size options
- PM – 26 cm length 20 cm height, 12 cm width
- MM – 24 cm length 34 cm height, 12 cm width
Colour options – black, khaki, red, cream, silver, LV Motion Green
I am no stranger to toting around a pretty LV monogrammed design. Louis Vuitton’s rich roots in travel and luggage making unquestionably translate to its handbag offerings.
With a slew of roomy bags to its prestigious name, LV’s spacious designs have long been essential in any bag lover’s collection. Styles like the Neverfull can take you from A to B to your next stylish engagement (I should know, the Neverfull was my first LV bag ever). And the Coussin offers this same functionality and suave in a new and can’t-wait-to-get-your-hands-on-it kind of way.
The Louis Vuitton Coussin consists of a trio of soft pouches bound together, complete with a zip closure. The thick crossbody strap is adjustable and removable. Louis Vuitton’s new statement Edge Chain is also removable. Featuring thick chain links engraved with Vuitton’s signature Monogram motifs, the chain is what makes this bag a true declaration of style. The pouch and chunky chain combo is one of THE biggest bag trends right now. This style was first seen in the form of Bottega Veneta’s The Chain Pouch (the chain adaptation of The Pouch which garnered cult-like status as the unlikely ‘It’ bag of 2019). Now more and more fashion brands want in on this nifty trend. Iterations of this style have been spotted at Lanvin and more recently on the Fall 2021 ready-to-wear Fendi runway. I am beyond excited to see the pouch and chunky chain style evolving and a growing number of brands establishing their take on the trend. Bottega Veneta’s The Chain Pouch was one of my most used bags in 2020 and I’m betting the LV Coussin will find itself on my arm to equal measure.
The tri-pouch design of the Coussin means the bag is formed of three separate compartments and the centre compartment sports its own individual zip closure. This is one of my favourite aspects of the design since it makes it easy to compartmentalise the contents of your bag. Unlike other soft pouch designs, the Coussin’s three compartments and accordion style give the bag an organised and super functional interior whilst still maintaining its relaxed, slouchy style. Constructed of soft and supple Monogram-embossed lambskin, the finish looks akin to Vuitton’s popular Monogram Empreinte, the Monogram pattern imprinted onto grained cowhide leather. However, the ultra-smooth lambskin gives the Coussin a cushy, almost silky finish. For my next trip I’m planning on using mine as a pillow!
The design can be worn three ways - crossbody, over the shoulder and as a clutch.
The Coussin will make the perfect clutch for swanky and oh so chic under arm wear when attending glamorous formal events. But for now, I’ve mostly been wearing my Coussin bag crossbody. The thick strap is adorned with lettering which reads ‘LOUIS VUITTON’, similar to the strap on the Multi Pochette Accessoires. Carrying the Coussin this way means the Edge Chain hangs across the body of the bag. The thick gold-coloured chain against a Monogram backdrop looks simply magnifique! During the recent Paris Fashion Week I found myself gravitating to the Coussin and wore it to appointments and showcases.
Louis Vuitton’s Coussin worn with statement kitten heels, an oversized blazer and relaxed jeans makes for the perfect mix of comfort, practicality and style - much like the bag itself.
The Coussin’s thick crossbody strap, three compartments and hanging chain are all evocative of another one of Louis Vuitton’s ‘It’ bags. The Multi Pochette, which is formed of a Pochette Accessoires, a Mini Pochette Accessoires and a Round Coin Purse, rose to wide-spread popularity in 2019. But the similarities between the two end there. The body of the Coussin bag looks akin to LV fan favourite the Toiletry Pouch which many choose to carry as a clutch. The Coussin PM is similar in size to the Toiletry Pouch 26. So if you’re a fan of the Toiletry Pouch’s sleek design but want it in the form of a functional bag, the LV Coussin is your new best friend.
At £2,430 for the PM and £2,710 for the larger MM size, the Louis Vuitton Coussin is more expensive than leather options of LV classics like the Neverfull. However, in terms of high-end luxury, the Coussin is priced fairly reasonably (I said fairly) and its price comes in under many other popular bags of the moment.
Throughout the years, ‘It’ bags have come in many shapes and sizes and just about every major luxury fashion label has undertaken the task of creating a bag which will make every fashionista fall to their knees.
Each ‘It’ bag is unique but they all have one thing in common – they are always near impossible to get a hold of! And with every single size and colour of the Coussin bag currently out of stock online, the odds are in the LV Coussin’s favour of becoming THE bag to carry right now.
What are your thoughts on Louis Vuitton’s latest must-have bag?
