Louis Vuitton Noé BB

Five bottles of Champagne, carried in style, were the original brief for the design that became the Noe, and the Noe BB keeps that history in a modern, body-friendly form. In 1932, a Champagne producer asked Gaston-Louis Vuitton to develop a sturdy, stylish bag in which he could transport five bottles, and the resulting bucket shape, with its iconic form and drawstring closure, remains the basis for this charming version in Monogram canvas. Monogram coated canvas forms the body, with natural cowhide leather trim, textile lining and gold-colour hardware. It measures 22 x 24 x 15 cm and 8.7 x 9.4 x 5.9 inches (Length x height x width), taller than it is long, an upright bucket profile with a 15 cm depth.

A drawstring closure gathers the top, pulling the canvas and trim together into a soft, cinched opening that can be loosened to reveal the interior or tightened to keep contents secure. Inside, a D-ring provides a fixed attachment point for a small pouch or key holder clipped in place, keeping it from sinking to the bottom of the bucket. The textile lining gives a smooth, light surface, so contents slide in and out without catching, and the single main compartment holds the essentials of a modern outing in one open space, easy to search when the drawstring is loosened. The bucket shape stands upright on its base, so the bag can be set down and opened without tipping.

The leather strap adjusts for comfortable shoulder or cross-body wear, with a strap drop of 50.0 cm/19.7 inches and a strap drop max of 55.0 cm/21.7 inches. The strap is removable and adjustable, so its length can be set for a shoulder hang at the shorter drop or a cross-body hang at the longer drop, and it can be removed entirely for a hand-carried bucket. That adjustability is the modern adaptation of the original design: the same bucket shape, now worn at two heights and with a removable strap for different outings. Natural cowhide leather trim edges the rim and base, reinforcing the points where the drawstring pulls and where the bag rests, and will darken slightly with handling.

Gold-colour hardware at the drawstring, D-ring and strap fittings gives a warm finish against the patterned canvas and pale trim. The reference is either made in France, Spain, Italy or in the US. Charming, sturdy and body-friendly, the Noe BB retains the iconic shape and drawstring closure of the 1932 original while adapting the strap for modern shoulder and cross-body wear, a bucket bag built for a small daily load in a form first made for five bottles.