SS19 Louis Vuitton Soft Trunk by Virgil Abloh Review
It has happened… A bag from Louis Vuitton made for the Men’s collection that has as much character and style as one you would see made for the ladies. The new Soft Trunk from the mind of Virgil Abloh, the houses new Creative Director, bridges both street style and the level of luxury that the fashion house is known for. The bag takes elements of classic monogram canvas and combines it with the brands history as a trunk maker to create something super fresh and unique.
The Exterior
About 85% of the bag is covered in Louis Vuitton classic monogram canvas with a Solar Ray coated finish, giving it a bit more gloss and shine. The malleable trunk shape canvas is then outlined with a thick black leather trim boarder, a feature that gives the bag its boxy structure. Don’t worry, the bag actually does keep this shape through continued use.
(Fun Fact: Contrary to popular belief, the classic LV brown monogram is NOT leather! It is a cotton canvas material that is treated and molded using various plastics to create a more durable material than that found in some standard leathers)
On all 8 corners of the trunk you will find metallic hardware with small LV monogram detailing embossed in the center. These corners are an homage to classic pieces from the travel collection archives and give added structural support to the otherwise flimsy canvas.
On both sides of the bag there are neon orange pieces that attach to the adjustable black leather strap. A bit of modern edge you will find in Virgil’s new creation is the matt-effect resin chain link detail that connects one end of the strap to the bag. At the top of the bag there are two zipper closures which give access to the fairly roomy interior.
The Interior
The inside of the bag is fairly simple. Outlined in a black textile fabric, the interior houses two side pockets and a leather Louis Vuitton tag. Free of compartments, the Soft Trunk is an open space to put all your daily or travel essentials.
Various Renditions
This is where things get exciting! Of course, I got too excited when I first saw this new shiny luxury items and end up being an early adopter. By not waiting for the later renditions that came in the Fall/Winter 2019 collection and Spring Summer 2020, I missed out on some incredible pieces (don’t worry, they are still on my wishlist). My three personal favorite Soft Trunks from the newer collections are the Mesh, Denim, and Monogram Gold Tone Brown. All varieties of the Soft Trunk are hard to come by, but these newer versions are especially difficult to find. You can buy some of them on great secondhand sites like The RealReal, StockX, or Ebay (if you do your research on the seller).
Final Verdict
All-in-all this bag is not one I regret having in my collection. If I had some complaints (which I do) they would be that…
1. The size is a bit awkward. The bag can’t fit larger essentials like a laptop or iPad, but also does not fall into the “mini bag” category.
2. The orange detail is made out of this interesting plastic style material that feel a little less “LUX” than something I would expect from a design house like Louis Vuitton. I also am afraid of what is going to happen, or more what isn’t going to happen, when the piece needs to be repaired… I guess I’ll have to update this post when that day comes.
There is no denying that the new soft trunk is one of the most innovative and exciting pieces released from the Louis Vuitton Men’s collection in a while. The shapes nod to classic LV trunk making and the new modern touches like chain link detail and neon orange strap connectors. Even with my few complaints, This is not a bag any collector, lover of LV, or Virgil Abloh fan should skip on (just be ready to pay the hefty $3,550 US price tag).