It seems like everywhere you turn someone is carrying a Louis Vuitton Neverfull bag and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’ve felt a bit left out. I’ve had a Louis Vuitton Looping bag for years now and while I love it and find it to be a great size for going out , I need a larger bag for my everyday life.
Not only do I love the timeless and iconic style that is the Louis Vuitton brand I’m also impressed that aside from the handle looking a little worn my Looping bag pretty much looks the same as when I got it six years ago – I am not one who is gentle on my bags y’all! I often put them on the ground at restaurants, toss them around, don’t store them in the dust covers, and cram them full of stuff but none of this has phased my Looping bag so I knew I wanted a bigger style for every day.
While my plan was to get a Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM bag as it is one of Louis Vuitton’s most popular styles I noticed the Louis Vuitton Graceful MM while looking on the website and found myself torn on which one to get so I’m comparing both and sharing my final selection with y’all.
Both styles come in a smaller PM version and the Louis Vuitton Neverfull is also available in a larger GM, but I am only comparing the MM styles here.
The two bags are of similar size with the Graceful MM having more width and the Neverfull MM more depth, but both have similar height. The official measurements as listed on the Louis Vuitton site are:
The Louis Vuitton Graceful MM 16 x 12 x 4
The Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM 12.6 x 11.4 x 6.7
My laptop is only 12 inches wide so this is not a problem for me but is something to consider if you have a larger laptop you would be looking to carry in your bag.
The two bags are at a similar price point too – The Neverfull MM is $1,390 and the Graceful MM is $1,440. Aside from the pouchette (which is just a small clutch) or a small speedy these are the most affordable Louis Vuitton handbags available making them popular “entry level” Louis Vuitton bags and the most bang for your buck due to their capacity.
Despite the pricing on the lower end of the Louis Vuitton handbag offering I still consider this to be a big purchase as I have never spend more than $500 on a handbag before ( my looping bag was purchased used) nor have I ever shopped at a Louis Vuitton store before so to me (and I think a lot of you too) this is a BIG purchase and I wanted to get it right.
Both bags have a canvas interior available in the beige or pivoine (which is a hot pink) and the Neverfull MM additionally comes in a red. Both bags are mostly made up of the coated canvas with a leather trim. Both styles are available in the classic monogram, Damier Ebene (the brown check print) and Damier Azur (the white check print). I received feedback from a friend that the Damier Azur can get color transfer from Denim and since I want this to be my everyday bag, I did not consider that print. The Neverfull can be customized and comes in additional prints and material at higher price points.
Both also have an interior zipped pocket. The Neverfull MM can be closed by a clasp in the middle and has leather laces to cinch the bag. The Graceful MM has a magnetic closure in the middle and due to its hobo style naturally “cinches” a bit on its own.
The Neverfull MM has two thin straps stitched directly to the body of the bag while the Graceful MM has one wider strap attached with gold hardware.
In my opinion the biggest difference between the two is that the Neverfull MM includes a pouchette (clutch) that can be clipped inside the bag or removed and carried separately. I love having a separate clutch in my bag because while I do pack all the things with me on a regular basis, I often just take my wallet and phone with me when I go to lunch or if I’m just running a quick errand. Plus, the pouchette (whose strap can be clasped like a wrist strap) would work for going out. While I know I could use any clutch in any large bag the value conscious part of me who truly wants to get the most bang for her buck love this “two in one” offering of the Neverfull but the stylish part of me is just attracted to the Graceful a bit more and likes that it’s not as common of a bag.
With all this in mind I headed to the Nashville Louis Vuitton location to see the bags in person and make my purchase. The Louis Vuitton store is located at the Green Hills Mall and they are currently expanding to a larger location so it’s obviously a popular stop. I “tried on” both the Neverfull MM and Graceful MM and had Shaun take my picture from the side, front and holding the bags so I could see how they would look being carried around. Although it was a hard decision, and both are great bags I ultimately went with . . .
The Louis Vuitton Graceful MM!
At the end of the day I am more of a handbag than tote kind of girl and was more drawn to this style. I do not like how open the Neverfull MM is and felt that while I can load just as much stuff in the Graceful MM it also functions better being less full. From an aesthetic standpoint I personally do not like the look of the cinching laces hanging off the side of the Neverfull and that was my ultimate deal breaker. Truth be told I think the Neverfull is the smarter choice and I wanted to love it, but I felt like I was more drawn to it as the bag everyone else has vs liking it on its own.
I am thrilled with my Graceful MM and loving using it for both work and on the weekends. I’d love to have a whole collection of LV bags, but it will probably be years before I can buy another one and I think the Graceful MM was the best overall choice.
I hope you found this comparison useful and love whatever bag you carry just as much!
xx,
