The Goyard Anjou Bag

Today, I wanted to share a new bag I recently added to which I’ve already been getting good use out of – the Goyard Anjou tote. I’d been eyeing the Anjou since it came out last winter, and loved the concept – the same size and dimensions as the classic Goyard St. Louis tote, but entirely leather lined, making it not only more sturdy…but (…..drumroll….) also reversible!

I was torn over what color to choose for the Anjou – I couldn’t decide between the green, red, and navy. So naturally I copped out once I had to make a decision and got the black (who else can relate?) in the PM size. It also drives me crazy that Goyard charges 30% more for colors than it does for black. I’ve never heard a logical explanation for this. So the black was the economical choice as well, though something tells me I might be adding a color down the line anyway. Sigh.

As those who are familiar with Goyard know, there are two standard black configurations – solid black, and black with tan. I chose the black with tan for the Anjou – I liked the visible contrast leather piping along the sides, and the tan leather makes it versatile for spring/summer.

Those who have the regular St. Louis bag might know that there’s largely two points of potential weakness on the bag – the corners, which can get scuffed and even wear away to holes over time, and the handles, which can break if too much weight is added. The Anjou seems to address this issue – there’s leather reinforcement along the sides and bottom (including the corner).

The handles are also thicker and sturdier than on the St. Louis, from what I remember (I used to have this exact combination in the St. Louis style). I compared my bag to my friend’s St. Louis, and the handles were a tad thicker.

The highlight of the Anjou however, and adding points for durability, is the gorgeous soft leather inside. Just look at all that luscious leather! The Anjou also comes with the standard small looped accessories pouch – perfect for holding keys, pens, or valuable documents while traveling (since the Anjou is a completely open tote).

Here’s the Anjou worn on yours truly – again this is the PM size.

J.Crew cargo dress, PASSAGE 88 Sabi shawl in naturals, Goyard Anjou tote, Gucci Marmont pumps

And of course, the tote can be flipped entirely inside out. It takes me about 30 seconds to flip mine around. It was a bit nerve wracking the first few times I did it – there’s some serious manhandling involved to turn a bag inside out! But I’ve gotten used to it by now, and quite fast. By the way, the only advice the Goyard salesperson provided was to not to pull and yank the handles to turn the bag inside out – I guess some people were getting super forceful using this method and damaging the handles.

And….ta da! The Anjou, now leather side out. I love that little peek of the monogram Goyardine canvas inside too. The leather is so soft and has a great feeling against the hand…almost like lambskin.

Leather side out this time to show you – I wear this bag a lot with my Sabi shawl, the naturals colorway is a perfect match. Mine just pretty much lives in my Anjou.

And a quick look at what fits within. All the essentials, and some more. Quite a bit, and if you took out the lunchbox (my baby’s) and the magazine, a thin laptop could easily fit.

Overall, I would highly recommend the Anjou. It’s a wonderfully useful light tote, and I love that there’s always a special lining on the inside, no matter what side you happen to be using. It’s especially great as a casual “dump everything inside” bag, a diaper bag (which is what I use mine for), and an open work tote.

Cons? The price, for one – it’s almost double the price of a St. Louis. And of course, the open top for those who like a more secure tote.

A quick summary below, for those who just want their questions answered!

PM or GM? I got the PM size, since I plan on using the Anjou more as a day to day bag.  The Anjou PM has the exact same dimensions as the St. Louis PM – 19 x 11 x 6″.

Is the bag heavy? Nope, super duper light…barely more than the regular St. Louis, from what I remember. The leather is a super soft, thin layer.

What’s the price? 

Anjou PM, Black or Black with Tan: $2080
Anjou PM, Special Colors (anything but Black): $2700
Anjou GM, Black or Black with Tan:$2450
Anjou GM, Special colors (anything but Black): $3180

Where can I purchase it? Right now just Goyard boutiques (I’m unclear whether or not it’s at department stores yet, or if it’ll be made available there at all)

How long does it take to reverse the bag? About 30 seconds (or if you’re my husband, 10 seconds). PS, you can also reverse the St. Louis model – just check it out here (though the plain light canvas is more susceptible to staining, of course.

Is this model sturdier than the St. Louis? Yup…the leather adds another layer of reinforcement, and also makes the bag stiffer/able to stand up on its own. Handles are also slightly thicker.

What fits inside? See the picture above!

What are other similar bags? Before buying the Anjou, I had no idea there were other reversible totes out there. But there are some great options, including this beautiful large floral Gucci version, well priced at under $1400, a Longchamp leather version with three different color options and lovely craftsmanship for $520,  and a vegan version from Street Level with great reviews, for under $50 (a more streamlined version here).