Created almost a century ago, the Louis Vuitton Alma bag has seen fashion evolve, and he has evolved with it. Witness to the long-standing know-how of the Parisian Maison, it first conquered France before setting sail to seduce the rest of the world. In this article, we tell you Alma's story through the years, to better understand how he became one of Louis Vuitton's best ambassadors!
A French success story
The story goes that the Alma bag was born following an order placed by Gabrielle Chanel has Gaston-Louis Vuitton, grandson of Louis, in the 20s. But if the famous “Coco” has indeed obtained a modern bag and created especially for her by the Louis Vuitton House, it would be wrong to say that it was already about the’Alma ! Originally called Squire, the bag in question is relatively wide. It was imagined in the spirit of the Bolide d'Hermes, like a travel bag less bulky than "Steamer" type trunks and accessories. When the very chic seamstress gave her consent for her bag to be marketed in the 1930s, it changed its identity several more times. It was notably called "Champs-Élysées" for a time, before officially become the Alma in 1992. Very Parisian names that pay homage to both the French know-how in the field of leather goods, but also to the essential role that the French capital plays in fashion. Whether it is the Pont de l'Alma, which connects the two banks of the Seine, or the Place de l'Alma, at the crossroads of mythical streets of Paris, the name Alma evokes glamor and travel.
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A style all its own
When it was created, the model took up the elements that made the success and reputation of the French luxury leather goods house at the time: it is strong, elegant and made with practicality in mind. What sets it apart from its illustrious elders is its more compact size, to be adopted for short stays and weekend getaways. Another aspect gives it a style of its own: its Art Nouveau inspiration, an artistic movement very popular in the 1920s. With its curved lines, without right angles (up to its famous Toron handles), the Alma bag recalls certain architectural elements that emerged during this period. It is this round style, appreciated on an international scale, which allows him to reach a wide audience.="luxury second hand vintage alma louis vuitton bag" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/[items]/files/1/0313/9980/5061/files/Design_sans_titre_6_600x600.png?v=1683880931" data-mce-style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
Over the years, its silhouette has evolved along with its various names: it has become more refined, more charming and more charisma until becoming the Alma bag that we know today. We love it trapeze shape, with a rectangular base and sides that gradually meet until creating a sort of dome. Be careful, however, as a large number of luxury bags, this specific profile requires special care : better be careful what you put in to avoid deforming the material!
L’Alma, star internationale
If the Louis Vuitton trunks and bags have been exported very well since the end of the 19th century thanks to the international reputation of the House, l’Alma was among the first hand bags to join the list of iconic fashion pieces. Jackie Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn notably participated in the birth of this craze, then other celebrities took over over the decades, thus increasing the notoriety of the Louis Vuitton small bag. However, it was in 1992 that its popularity exploded: in addition to its official name, the Alma bag gains another advantage, since it is marketed in the emblematic toile Monogram LV. The elegant and functional accessory – it has two compartments and a very large zip – thus concludes its rise and confirms its status as an international star. In a press release discussing the collection 2013, the Maison specifies that the Alma bag "symbolizes the bridge linking the origins of the trunk maker to its current status as a major international fashion house". The circle is complete !="luxury second-hand vintage louis vuitton alma monogram bag" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/[items]/files/1/0313/9980/5061/files/Design_sans_titre_7_600x600.png?v=1683881157" data-mce-style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
A bag reinvented a thousand times
In addition to his identity changes, the Louis Vuitton handbag has seen countless looks, from the most classic to the most extravagant. The best known of them is certainly the Epi leather, which dresses with finesse and sobriety the Alma bag in its united versions. Canvas checkerboard, patent leather or graffiti by Stephen Sprouse: theAlma easily adopted all the styles offered by the Louis Vuitton House, And there's something for everyone ! In a now famous photo from 2007, Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton had opted for very shiny pieces – gold And silver metallic! – from the Monogram Mirror collection. If the bag has already known five different formats (Nano, BB, PM, MM and GM), the Nano version and the Large Model is currently no longer sold. It is nevertheless still possible to find these sizes of Alma bag on the side of the second hand. Released in 2010, the format BB, 23.5 cm wide, is certainly the most popular at the moment. Accompanied for the first time in the history ofAlma with a shoulder strap, it has perfect proportions for everyday life.At Vintega, we never tire ofAlma ! Proof of this is the numerous Alma bags second hand available on our online store. For a first purchase or to complete an already well-stocked collection, it is a safe bet and a risk-free investment. Nugget alert!
