I’m excited to share the Goyard St Louis tote GM review post with you today since it’s one of my most worn bags. Back in autumn, during our annual trip to Paris, I bought the Goyard St Louis GM tote. I had it on my wishlist for a while, but I am not sure that’s a good enough excuse because I was not planning to buy it during that trip specifically. In fact, I had planned to buy it last summer, while in Milan. However, the queue at the store was so long both times I went, that I did not even bother with it. That was that and a month later I ordered the Loewe Puzzle bag as part of my one-luxury-bag-a-year quota.
Fast forward to the autumn when we were in Paris, and we stopped by the Goyard flagship store on rue Saint-Honoré. It was a rainy evening and about an hour before closing time. By a strike of luck there was almost no queue – just two people. Long story short, I got into the queue, waited for about 10 mins and ended up breaking my one-luxury-bag-a-year rule.
So with that, I am now ready to bring you the Goyard St Louis tote GM review. It’s an honest review, coming after 9 months of heavy duty wear and where I spill all the beans when it comes to wear and tear so you can decide if it’s worth it for you or not.
Goyard St Louis Tote GM Review – Breakdown
The Chosen One – Details on Sizing & Colour
Let’s start with the obvious. I picked the Goyard St Louis tote GM in burgundy. Now let’s unpack that by talking about sizing first, as this was the biggest challenge when getting the bag. Based on browsing their website and seeing it on other people, I was fully convinced I’d be getting the PM (let’s call it the standard size). While in the store, however, when I first tried the PM size I realized the straps were way too short and I could not wear them comfortably on the shoulder. And this is a definitive must for me for a tote bag although the bag size itself for the PM seemed perfect for day to day.
After a bit of back and forth, I finally settled for the GM. The straps are long enough to be worn comfortably on the shoulder even with a winter coat, and honestly, this part was a non-negotiable for me. Because what is a tote for if not for wearing on the shoulder? Size-wise, the GM is a tad bigger but it does not feel too oversized when wearing due to its slouchiness.
I also tried out the the Anjou Bag which is essentially a St Louis bag but in a leather version lined with Goyardine. It’s also reversible, though less slouchy given the leather. Another option was the version with the zip, the Artois Bag. The Artois PM bag is an even more structured version. It comes with the four corners reinforced with leather and a zip closure. I didn’t like either because I preferred the slouchy look of the St Louis. Though, I will say the Anjou is kind of on my radar.
According to the sales assistant, I found out that the PM is a good size for everyday use, whereas the GM fits better for travel, or as a weekend bag. In the store, it felt a little bit like a compromise, and at the start I thought the GM would be a tad bit too big. After wearing it a couple of times however, I quickly got used to it. Looking back, I can say the bigger size has been the right decision as it came in handy for office days, travelling and everything else in between. So it was definitely the right choice for me and I have no regrets whatsoever. I do think the PM works very well if you’re petite and probably will also fit well on the shoulder, but for me it was just not the right choice.
In terms of colours, there are plenty of options. Initially I thought I’d go for the black one, but once in store I saw the burgundy version and was instantly smitten with it. I will also say that I have a bit of an obsession with burgundy as I see it as the most elegant colour out there. It’s also not a colour that I had seen much on the streets, and even now after getting it I’ve rarely seen it, which I’m rather happy about. The bag complements all of my outfits and I love that it brings a pop of colour. For me, burgundy is such a classic that I think it matches everything and elevates all of my outfits.
Here while in Berlin, heading for a corporate retreat.
Design
There is not too much to talk about here although it’s a Goyard St Louis tote GM review. It’s a very straightforward tote, with two handles that can be worn on the shoulder (at least the GM), no internal organisation, and a detachable wallet. Shape-wise, the tote is very slouchy, especially when empty. It does not have structure at all, which given its size, actually helps with not making it look too big or too bulky. I also like that it somewhat adapts to whatever I am carrying inside and looks great for everyday use. It makes it the kind of tote that you can just toss things into and it will still look chic. This lack of structure actually came in handy for folding it inside my big luggage while travelling in Japan. Therefore I count it as a feature that makes the bag all the more practical.
The bag is made out of Goyardine canvas with leather straps. This also makes the bag completely reversible though I’ve never tried it so far. The canvas is a mix of cotton and linen with a waterproof coat. While it’s not a fully leather bag, it is a very flexible, durable and light bag thanks to the canvas. Speaking of durability, about a week after getting my bag, the unthinkable happened. I spilled a full cup of hot coffee inside. I did not screw the cap well on my coffee mug, and the horror ensued. And I have to say that there was a lot of coffee inside the bag, not just a minor spill. I had to literally pour out the coffee from inside the bag.
After freaking out a little I cleaned the bag with water and a sponge and let it air dry. I repeated the process two more times and the cotton lining ended up looking like new. Luckily, I spilled my coffee inside this bag and not the other leather bags. So there is a silver lining there. Finally, after this experience I’d say the exterior is definitely easy to wipe and keep clean. In case of major issues, the interior is also rather easy or at least manageable to clean.
Finally, the detachable wallet that also comes with the bag is extremely practical. And i have to say it gets quite some use on its own too. I sometimes take it to events to carry cards, keys and lipstick (though it does not fit my iPhone unfortunately). It was also the perfect wallet while in Japan to carry cash and especially paper bills without folding them. So definitely a very practical add-on to have.
What fits in the Goyard St Louis GM tote
Well, it’s a big tote bag so pretty much anything and everything fits in. For office days I fit in a laptop, coffee mug, wireless mouse, wallet, glasses, beauty pouch, gym clothes, and probably more. And there is still space left. I’ve also used it as my only carry on bag a bunch of times when travelling to Madrid or Paris for a few days, and I’d fit in a beauty bag, essentials pouch, sunglasses, wallet, kindle, and a couple of outfits. So space is definitely not a problem with it. The great part about it is that on its own it’s very light and due to being so flexible and slouchy, even when full to the brim it will still look chic.
Wear and tear of the Goyard St Louis GM tote
It wouldn’t be a proper Goyard St Louis GM tote review post without the details on wear and tear. I have been using the bag for the last 9+ months pretty consistently. If you’ve followed me on Instagram you must have noticed that. It’s my bag of choice for most office days, especially when I pack my workout gear for a workout at the office gym. It also came with me on several travels as my carry-on. Twice in Spain, twice in Paris, and for three weeks while in Japan, and was indeed one of the two bags I carried in Japan. I have to say that for traveling and sightseeing, it was great to have this tote because I could fit in light jackets, water, the many snacks we would inevitably buy every day, and more.
Wear and tear was the major point of concern when I got the bag. I read a lot of reviews and many of them were pointing out a few weak spots. Essentially the straps would crack rather quickly and the corners would get rubbed off. And I am going to share with you all the details.
How has the the Goyard St Louis GM tote held up over 9 months of wear?
On the whole, I will say that the bag is holding up very well given all the wear. As I mentioned, I’ve been using it pretty intensively. While I care for my bags in general and in the sense that I never place them on the floor or dirty surfaces (except in planes), I do buy them to wear and enjoy them. So I will not shy away from taking the bags out every day for errands, office, travel, and so on. So with all that use in mind, there are no significant signs of wear and tear on the bag. The Goyardine canvas looks like new, and even the cotton mix interior looks very sturdy despite the aforementioned unfortunate coffee spill.
Prior to buying it, I had read a lot of reviews saying that the handles are the first to give in and crack. Luckily, I have to say that so far there is no sign of cracking despite the rather heavy-duty use. You can see that in the close-up pictures below. When I bought it I was surprised that the handles felt rather thick and sturdy, despite the slim look. I am not sure about it but I believe they might have made some improvements to them recently. So I am very happy about that, although I’ll have to wait and see how they behave from here on.
Now, there is one weak spot of the bag that I have just noticed a couple of weeks ago. I had not paid attention to that before so I cannot say when this happened. And the signs of wear and tear are now visible in the form of rubbing on all four corners. Truth is, I cannot say I was not expecting it. I read a lot of reviews before buying it and I knew the two weak points were the leather straps and the corners. I just hoped it would not be too bad. Now, the rubbing is minimal but of course, I don’t like seeing it with under one year of use. I’s also true that as I’ve said, I’ve worn it a lot and I don’t have any regrets because it’s such an easy going bag.
Now knowing that, will I stop wearing it? No. However, I will look into possibilities of repair early on so I can wear it without worrying too much.
Last Thoughts on the Goyard St Louis Tote GM Review
Service was extremely subpar for me. I’d go as far as saying that Goyard service is by far the worst I’ve experienced so far. From the gentleman who rudely organised the 2-people-long-queue, to the sales assistants who were not of much help. But that did not deter me from getting the bag obviously as I was not shopping there for the experience.
All in all, I love the bag. It was a great purchase and I got a ton of use out of it already. It’s probably one of my most favourite bags and the one that gets the most use, alongside the Loewe Puzzle. Honestly, I love it so much that I would not mind getting another one in black because to me it is the perfect tote (sans the rubbed corners of course).
I think one learning I got from wearing it so far, is that it’s probably not the ideal office bag given that it’s not that sturdy on the whole. The moment you stuff in a laptop and other things it will get a tad heavy and you might get stressed out about potential wear and tear. Although it is extremely easy to wear. Indeed, it was originally designed as a beach bag, although for me it’s a classic city and errands tote.
Would I buy the Goyard St Louis Tote GM again?
Would I buy it again? If I am honest, I want to say yes. I do love this bag so much and I just find it so easy to wear. It’s light, chic, and I love the pop of colour it brings. So yes, I would buy another one – despite the durability flaws – and on my radar is either a classic black & brown one or a grey one.
I hope you enjoyed the Goyard St Louis tote GM review and let me know if you have any questions. Also, I am curious to hear, if you have one, how has it been holding up for you so far. And if you don’t, do you have it on your wishlist?
