Speaking as a relative luxury newbie, I’ve become quite addicted to Louis Vuitton bags and accessories this past year. I’ve already shared a glimpse of my Pochette Metis and the Neverfull has rarely left my side, but I wanted to find a bag that embodied the spirit of the brand and its rich history. The search for such a bag led me to the Louis Vuitton Noé.
“In 1932 a Champagne producer asked Gaston-Louis Vuitton to develop a bag that was elegant, sturdy, and able to carry five bottles of Champagne (four bottles standing up and one, in the middle, turned upside down). He created the Noé bag, a Louis Vuitton classic.”
(Paul-Gérard Pasols, Louis Vuitton: The Birth of Modern Luxury Updated Edition)
The Noé is available new online, but only in the Damier Azur canvas at the moment (and for nearly three times as much money as vintage, pre-loved ones). I specifically wanted the monogram print, so buying new wasn’t an immediate option. But I actually prefer the aged patina of the leather trim and think a little wear gives the bag character.
I had been searching online for awhile and finally found a beautiful very well-loved Noé on Poshmark. There were no scratches or discoloration on the canvas, although the bottom of the bag had some watermarks. The trim was the perfect caramel color and in overall good condition. I highly recommend buying luxury resale items on Poshmark because of their free authentication for items over $500. Sign up for Poshmark and use the referral code stephaniedrenka to receive a $5 credit!
Everything about the bag, which was made in France during the year 1984 (older than me!), was just what I had hoped. Except for the condition of the brass hardware. The bag’s classic Louis Vuitton grommets, D-rings, and buckles were recognizably tarnished– some even with unsightly specks of green.
Restoring a Vintage Louis Vuitton Noé Bag
After some online research, YouTube videos, and blog posts, I decided to try this Bar Keeper’s Friend cleanser. After applying a few drops and rubbing the hardware in a circular motion with a Q-tip had dramatic results. (I recommend keeping gentle, alcohol-free baby wipes handy in case anything spills onto the canvas) Within seconds, the brass sparkled like new and contrasted beautifully against the dark canvas and leather. Scroll down to see photos of the process and astonishing after shots.
How I Organize My Louis Vuitton Noé Bag
With my beautiful new/old bag polished and ready-to-go, I used this felt organizer to keep its shape and my things within reach. The Noé is often compared to Mary Poppins’ bag for its ability to hold just about everything you might need with you on a daily basis. The drawback to this drawstring design is that it can be a bit of a black hole for your stuff. The organizer helps prevent loose items from getting lost. I love that it has a removable holder for water bottles and slot for an iPad or tablet.
My very favorite part about carrying a vintage bag is imagining the adventures it has been on with previous owners. Each one must have such interesting stories to tell that it feels like a privilege to have the Noé as a companion on my own life journey.
I love your post on this bag. I got this bag about 14 yrs ago. I actually chose it because if the history of what it was designed for although I wont probably be carrying Champagne in it I love the idea I could lol.who doesnt love Champagne. I only used mine about 5 times over the years and its basically brand new. I was thinking of selling it but your write up has sparked a new love for it and I shall start using it again. Thank you so much!
Oh wow! Such good condition. Definitely hold on to it… so iconic. Enjoy!
I love your story. I too have become obsessed with finding a vintage Louis Vuitton bag. I have been looking at this same style on Poshmark as well. But I am so worried of getting a fake. If I find a good deal under $500 I can’t get it authenticated. So makes me really nervous to buy online and trust it the real deal. Any advice? Are their bags that are not ever made fake? Any words of wisdom would be awesome! Thanks
You can have the bag authenticated, if you find one that you really want that’s under $500 on Poshmark. You can check the date code online by doing a search, or go to Yoogi’s Closet for their Louis Vuitton information page (fantastic, will give you date code information and other things to look for) and join the Party Forum, which I believe is purseblog.com.
Hello, I was wondering if you find this bag quite large. I want to make my first designer purchase (pre-loved). So the Louis Vuitton Neo seems like the best option, however there are different sizes and I am wondering if you would advice this size or for example the neo neo? Kind regards, Eline
I love the size of the vintage Noe. (I do like large bags in general though). It holds my 13″ Macbook, which is handy for work. But it fits nicely on my shoulder where I don’t feel like I’m going to knock stuff over with it (like I do sometimes with the Neverfulls). I don’t have the Neo, so it’s hard to compare but it really is my every day bag.
Hello! I have this bag is 34 years old in good condition, but the leather string is missing! Can you tell me the measurement of the string and the wide? So I can make custume in a lesther shop, please!!
I’ll share a secret, a great substitute replacement for the Louis Vuitton Noe drawstring is a leather baseball mitt string. Readily available at most Academy or sporting goods stores. 😁 (The Now are my favorite apparently, as I got my Noe MM senior year in 1989. Then got the larger Noe GM! Incredibly durable handbags. Easily last 10+ years of daily wear & tear.)
hi! are you interested in selling this bag? im looking specifically for a 1984 noe to gift my sister for her birthday in a month.
Look on Vestiaria Collective. I might have spelled that wrong, but there are some honest vendors on there that sell vintage LV Noes. I recently purchased 3 vintage Noes to give as gifts. Two are early 80s and one is from the 90s. They are real ( I had them authenticated) and all I needed to do was clean them, as they were horribly dirty and stinky. They were each, with tax and shipping, a little over $300.00 each.