Legendary Luxury: The Louis V Speedy
Originally designed as a smaller version of the Keepall—a carry on luggage bag, in 1932, The Louis V Speedy has since seen hundreds of manifestations. Vuitton designers in the 30's were looking for something to fit the modern traveling culture. Newer, more frequent trains, and more common intercity travel after the first World War allowed for shorter trips, meaning women required little more than a small handbag to carry along with them (and of course their LV trunk stowed away). The original Speedy (initially called the "Express") appeared in the classic Monogram in 1932 to immediate, widespread approval.
Audrey Hepburn's Speedy
In 1965 Audrey Hepburn famously asked the Parisian designer to create a smaller version of the Speedy for her to use as a day to day bag. This is how the Speedy 25 was born, the smallest of 4 sizes of the purse. The original Speedy (the 30) Louis V handbag is still the most popular size, but the legend of Audrey Hepburn is still attached to the purse and adds to the appeal more and more as time goes by and other starlets choose the bag.
The Speedy has been redesigned for almost 80 years now , always gaining new looks. Of the hundreds of Louis V Speedy designs some of the most popular are the classic Monogram (of course), the Damier canvas, the Cerises, the Watercolor , the Murakami, the Miroir, the Mini Lin and more recently the Graffiti.