With PFW now in the rearview mirror, I can take a breath, and begin to tell you about some of my other Parisian adventures. Or should I say shopping ;) Surprisingly there was little time for retail therapy on this trip and some of the biggest moments took place just before leaving Paris. Fresh in my mind as I flew home, I filled my notes app with the details… and the photo app with pics.
Photo captured while standing at line at the new Goyard boutique on day of departure.
The story takes me to the Boulevard George V, but not to the Hermès boutique (or George V Hotel). Goyard’s new George V boutique opened this fall and not only did I want to see it, but I also had something special on my wishlist.
Standing in line in the rain, waiting for the boutique to open.
It was my last day in Paris, a damp and dreary morning. With a 4pm flight I had arranged for a driver to take me to the airport at noon sharp; I wanted to leave ample time for the VAT refund process. Paris traffic can be unpredictable and cause undue and unnecessary stress – especially when you need to detax. After all, the Charles de Gaulle Airport is expansive requiring you to cover a lot of ground by foot.
As you might imagine, this trip to Paris was insanely busy. There was little personal or shopping time. In fact, none. Between the shows, the Hermès presentations, the trip to the atelier in Pantin and writing content … there was no block of time to commit to shopping. Maybe a boutique pop-in here or there, but a full-blown shopping spree just wasn’t in the offing.
Chanel boutique at 21 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.
And yet, going to the Goyard boutique without an appointment would definitely require an unknown time of waiting in line, without knowing whether I would be successful. But I had the morning, at least until noon.
About three weeks prior, the Goyard Instagram page had featured a new bag called the Saigon tote in bright yellow that had me up in arms, literally. I immediately reached out to the PurseBop team and instructed that I wanted them to gather all the information they could. We needed to publish a feature as soon as possible at PurseBop.com.
@goyard
On September 18th, 2023, we published an article on the new Goyard Saigon tote. Rather than satisfying my curiosity, our research and article only increased my intrigue.
Read also: Introducing The New Goyard Saigon Tote
I have been an ardent fan of the Goyard totes for travel for many years. It began with a Saint Louis tote in blue, followed by an Artois tote in black. More recently, last April, I adopted a yellow mini Anjou which instigated a bit of an obsession. A few months later, that one mini Anjou became two with the addition of the limited edition powder pink version. I revealed this adorable bag on our family cruise last Thanksgiving.
More recently, I have been toying with the idea of adding another Artois tote. Why? Well, when I’m in the mood for color, my black Artois falls short. Additionally, since acquiring my Hermès RMS carry-on luggage, I’ve hunted for a tote that would coordinate with its colors.
Hermes SO Birkin 30 Blue Hydra with my Hermes carry on luggage.
I know, I do have the blue Saint Louis tote, but I’m no longer convinced that it is the right tote for current travel conditions. The open top tote now scares me for airport transit, as we wrote in a recent article.
Goyard Saint Louis GM tote nesting my Birkin 35 in classic Orange epsom.
It’s simple logic really. You can’t have valuable things (e.g., jewelry, mini bags, important documents, etc.) free-floating in a wide open top tote. The open top is an invitation for theft, or loss if items inadvertently fall out. Just picture those TSA conveyor belts and the plastic baskets in open view combined with the mashup and rush to get through security.
Photo from my Paris trip to attend the Hermès runway in March 2023.
In fact, it happened to me last March when I was traveling with a Birkin 30. My Rose Pop calvi (with my ID) slipped out of my nearly empty bag. Luckily, it fell on the agent side of the belt where the authorities picked it up and tried calling me. I did not answer any calls as I was in meetings.
Even worse, I did not realize it was missing until I was about to pay for my purchases at, where else, but Hermès Madison. If my SA is reading this, she’ll remember she taught me how to use the Uber feature to contact a driver in case of lost items as I suspected my calvi may have fallen out during my Uber ride from the airport into the city.
To make a long story short, I later called the TSA in Chicago and TSA held my wallet. Good news, but getting home through LaGuardia Airport’s additional security checks without identification was a nightmare.
This is an issue mid-flight as well. Putting your bag in the overhead bin? Flight crews typically warn that contents may shift and items can fall when it is opened. Well, they can also get lost. More than that, did you ever consider who might have access if, for example, you fall asleep on these long-haul flights?
You get the point. There are many reasons to use a tote with a zipper. And that’s what brought me to Goyard on my last morning in Paris. A colorful Artois in orange or blue could fit the bill. Truthfully though, I also wanted to explore the new Saigon tote in person. Lastly, there’s always room for another mini Anjou. The style and size just always seems to work, for errands, construction site visits, and casual afternoons.
This time around traveling to Paris for the Hermès runway I opted for my Artois tote to secure my contents as it’s a fully zippered tote.
Understand that these Goyard totes are to serve my travel needs and especially to nest my more expensive handbags during transit. I cannot be babying Goyard totes too, lol. In other words, the Saigon tote would only be a viable choice for me if I were comfortable traveling with it unprotected. That means it goes straight on a TSA conveyor belt without any dust bag or other cover. Don’t cringe. But if I have to put the Saigon tote inside of another tote, then what’s the point? I have enough Birkins that require babysitting and protection.
You know sometimes it’s nice to just have… let’s say a Birkin with a rollaway suitcase. Might not be the safest thing but I have done it with my B35’s and B30’s. And on day trips to NYC just a Birkin or Kelly in my hands feels chic (and I can’t always promise I have a dustbag).
No judgment please.
Read also: The Ultimate Luxury Travel Guide: How To Do It Safely and Stylishly
I enjoy carrying a Birkin without always having to place in a tote, especially if traveling with Mr PB for a quick trip.
Okay, enough of the back story, let’s move onto the actual experience.
The only way my excursion was going to work was if I left my hotel room at 9:30 am sharp to get in the Goyard line before the 10 am store opening. I would need to be fully packed, bags zipped, and ready to roll immediately upon return to the hotel. If lucky enough to purchase anything, I would also need a few spare minutes for that extra packing.
I selected the new Goyard boutique for multiple reasons. First, since we had written about it, I wanted to see it firsthand. Second, as the newest location, it likely would be spectacular compared to the older original boutiques on Saint Honoré. And third, and perhaps most important, the new Goyard boutique is right opposite Hermès George V. Given an extra few minutes, I would try to hustle a short visit. But it would all depend on the wait time outside Goyard.
Hermès Georges V, Paris
So that was the plan… and we know what typically happens to plans. I left a little late and the rainy weather slowed traffic. As a result, I didn’t reach the Goyard boutique until approximately 9:50 am. At that point there were already approximately 15 people in line in front of me. I don’t think I’ve stood in a line to shop for years with the exception of the Hermès Paris sales years ago.
The “plan” was to allow about 45 minutes of waiting, which would take me to roughly 10:30 am, at which point I would assess progress. If at that point it seemed unlikely that I would make it into the store in time, then I would shift gears. The Hermès boutique right across the street opens at 10:30 and I would go there.
The line outside Goyard ahead of me.
Although the line outside Goyard moved, it felt like a snail’s pace. It was hard to tell under the umbrellas whether people were in groups or solo. My success required that several of the people in front of me know exactly what they want and preferably in at least groups of two. Ten-thirty am came and went but I continued to stand in line, mentally rearranging my schedule. If I could make it into the store by 11 am that would give me 15-20 minutes in the store. I was cutting it close.
Wearing my new studded Chypre sandals released for F/W 2023.
In front of me was the loveliest young couple. They were on their honeymoon and she was in search of a mini Anjou tote. Of course I shared with her my deep love for this pint size bag until she was completely convinced it was going to be perfect for her. I shared photos of my mini Anjou totes from my camera roll. I even highlighted the reversible nature of this pint size bucket tote.
We talked about a few other things including the bed bug situation in Paris. Together we watched the CNN clip on our phones.
My Goyard mini Anjou in a limited edition powder pink enroute to Paris in March 2023.
My yellow mini Anjou reversed.
I casually explained that I had to be inside the store – and out – in record time to make it back to the hotel to meet my driver. They were so kind and offered their spot should we hit dangerous crunch time. I actually hope they somehow read this, as I would like to thank them again for their kindness and generosity.
Finally, we made it to the front of the line. The honeymoon couple and I were ushered into the brightly lit modern boutique. It definitely had a very fresh look compared to the more regal, dark wood paneled stores I have visited in Paris, Miami and San Francisco.
The boutique had a great bright vibe but I had no time to linger. Instead, I immediately got down to business. I started with requesting to see the Saigon tote. My sales associate inquired about color preference. I replied by asking which are actually in stock today? It seemed like the logical thing to do, right?
He replied, I only have red, navy and green and he confirmed that he had only one piece of each.
What I had thought I wanted was the two-tone tan and black version as I thought it would coordinate well with both my Louis Vuitton and Hermès luggage. Since that wasn’t going to be an option, I asked to see both the navy and the green. Red doesn’t work for me. I find it hard as a travel tote color. It doesn’t seem to coordinate with my ensembles, coats, or luggage. In the summer, reds clash with my pastels so I stay away.
Ultimately It was going to be a quick decision after trying on both. I was wearing my Celine black leather jacket, a black T shirt with creamy blush colored silk satin cargo pants and my studded Hermès chypres. No purse at all, haha… unusual and not quite fitting for PurseBop… but my bags were packed. I carried only my passport and calvi in my pocket.
My sales associate returned with two giant green boxes. Immediately I knew this box was not making the flight. These cubes were massive. Bigger than a B35 box, I think!
Anyway, as he unveiled the navy bag, I was intrigued. Such a great shape; yes, it definitely has a Birkin-inspired overall structure. I proceeded to explore the interior pockets and was delighted. There was one generously sized canvas pocket that would allow for wallet and passport and any other necessities. The interior was generous.
I was mentally calculating dimensions of the Hermès mini Kelly, Kelly Danse, my new Bolide with wheels, the new Chanel nano Kelly and mini 22… Those were the bags that popped into mind as they were the bags taken on recent trips.
Goyard Saigon tote in green.
And, I wondered, could the Saigon tote replace the Artois already with me?
Maybe. Probably. Actually, yes. I had just packed my Artois and knew exactly what I needed to carry on the way home. Granted, the Saigon tote would not have much extra space but it would fit what was already in my Artois.
Let’s talk a moment about the top opening. It has a flap that can be secured over the top of the tote and tucked into a buckle. That’s one way to wear it. The other way would be to wear it like an open Birkin where the flap gets tucked in the back. I make reference to the Birkin again because it is the closest comparison in design. Just as one could wear a Birkin open or closed, the same is true of the Saigon. Admittedly, it’s not as secure as the zippered Artois tote, definitely something to consider, but it offered more security than open top totes like the Saint Louis or Louis Vuitton Neverfull. The flap top offers roughly 90% of the security of a zippered tote.
Wearing the Saigon tote as an open top tote @goyard
Time was ticking, so while I was picturing how to pack the Saigon tote, I asked to see the green version. I tried on both navy and green, alternating to see how each looked with what I was wearing.
The green was a nice contrast to the black leather versus the navy, which blended in more. This green shade is not bright; it’s more like a fall green. It would easily coordinate with my Louis Vuitton luggage. In fact, they would look fabulous together. As for coordinating with my Hermès luggage, well, it wouldn’t match, but it also wouldn’t clash. Opting for the navy didn’t improve the situation either way. Ultimately it was just going to boil down to color preference.
Contemplating the green and navy options.
Observing both colors in hand in the mirror, I decided we were going green. I remembered seeing a young girl carrying a crossbody green pouch when we were tailgating for the Chicago Bears game earlier in September. Her green bag looked great even with summer denim and a casual white T-shirt.
Moving on, I asked if there were any mini Anjou totes. My cousin overseas has been asking me to try to snag one for her in Paris and I would consider a third for myself if the color offered was just right. Truthfully, I was thinking white! Luckily the sweet honeymoon couple scored the last one in that deep burgundy shade. I was happy she was able to get one.
For me, bringing home the Saigon tote made me question buying a second larger tote, even if completely different. I decided it wasn’t imperative at this moment and moved on. The only other thing I asked about was a small wallet, showing him my Rose Pop Calvi and explaining that I need something this size for my mini bags.
Well aware of my time crunch, he quickly brought out the green wallet option to match my Saigon tote. It was perfect: a little bit thicker, slightly taller but had compartments for six credit cards and two hidden slots and even space for bills. This decision was quick, no questions asked, I would take both. I’m not a wallet matchy-match kind of girl as I don’t have the patience to shift with each bag. However, I was excited to try this Goyard wallet and I did love that it had some organizational capacity.
Goyard St Pierre card holder.
Comparing the Goyard St Pierre wallet to my Hermès Rose Pop Calvi.
Love the organizational features of the Goyard St Pierre wallet.
Done. A quick trip to cash out; with saved payment details, it was a very quick process. My driver happened to call and I asked him to pick me up from the boutique and we would go to the hotel together. He agreed so everything was working out with some time to spare. I might even have a small chunk of time at the Hermès right across. That’s a story for another article though (wink wink).
I was excited, I must have been in and out of there in 10 minutes flat, maybe 15 at the most. It was a good experience and I was anxious to get back to my hotel room and re-pack. The plan was to carry the Saigon tote home and pack the Artois in my suitcase. The Artois would be filled with things from the suitcase and placed stuffed so as to not lose space or crush the tote. I commended (to myself lol) my expert organizational thinking on the ride back to the hotel.
It took me just minutes to re-organize. Both mini bags were securely placed in the Saigon tote, a small make up pouch, my passport, calvi, and other travel documents were secured in the back pocket, and we were all set. The bellman arrived minutes after I called. I followed behind him carrying just the Saigon tote in hand.
I want to reiterate what I mentioned earlier:
The Saigon tote was a buy only if I were comfortable using it without a dust bag. I had no intention of placing the Saigon tote inside another protected tote. For me, the Saigon tote would serve the same purpose as an Artois or my Saint Louis tote.
Travel deets. The Goyard Artois versus the Saint Louis GM.
Placing the new Saigon tote directly in the TSA trays with my other belongings.
During the flight, I brought down the tote to play and take these photographs for you. As I rearranged my space, I clicked a few images.
Everything tucked away for takeoff. The new Saigon tote stands tall and structured.
Both my Hermès bags that I took to Paris fit comfortably inside the Saigon tote: Mini Bolide /wheels + my ombre Kelly Danse.
What Fits in The Saigon Tote
Once home, in the wee hours of the morning (the perils of jet lag) I decided to have a little bag nesting session. Guess what… both the Birkin and Kelly 25 fit like a dream. I mean it’s like it was made for this LOL, and with space to spare. Now imagine you’re taking a nice vacation, you could totally nest a K20 inside a B25 and nest the B25 in the saigon tote. The dream team!
Birkin 25 fits very comfortably inside the Saigon tote. You can completely close the Saigon tote or carry open with the Birkin 25 inside.
Lots of room to spare.
Additionally, a Kelly 25 also fit exceptionally well. There might be enough space to spare for a extra Kelly 20 with it, but truthfully I didn’t think of trying that when I was taking pictures. Hermès lovers know the limited nesting capacity of a K25.
Kelly 25 sitting inside the Saigon tote with lots of space to spare to carry additional items.
This tote was going to be a game changer. I was uber excited that I had pulled the trigger. To express my enthusiasm, I am going to bombard you with Saigon tote nesting photos using my Gris Tourterelle B25 and my Black chevre Kelly 25. Hopefully the pictures will do the talking. Excuse the myriad of pics, but am very pleased with the nesting capabilities for an Hermès connoisseur. I will do the same exercise with Chanel at a later point and update here.
Tote fully closed with a Birkin 25 inside.
When the Saigon tote is closed up, its contents are fairly secure.
Demonstrating what a Kelly 25 looks like inside the Saigon tote fully closed up.
Spacious interior.
Interior of the Goyard Saigon tote.
Spacious canvas back pocket.
The Handbag Math for the Goyard Saigon Tote
Our content wouldn’t be complete without a hearty dose of our handbag math.
The Saigon tote retails for €4,250 Euros versus $5,000 USD. Calculating the currency conversion and VAT refund yields these substantial savings. Please keep in mind, the following math does not include duty assessed by customs upon re-entering the US (we highly suggest you declare, more on this on an upcoming article) and it also does not account for US sales tax if purchased here.
Read also: Tips for Traveling Internationally with Valuable Bags and Luggage
| Region | Goyard Saigon Tote |
| USA | $5,000 |
| EU | €4,250 |
| EU Price US $ Equivalent | $4,468 |
| Savings if Purchased in the EU | $532 |
| VAT Refund 12% in US dollars | $536 |
| *Total Savings* | $1,068 |
If global pricing of the Goyard totes discussed in today’s article is of interest, we have compiled a very detailed guide for the current 2023 prices.
The Goyard Tote Price Guide 2023: USA vs Europe vs UK
Is the Saigon tote going to make it to your wishlist? Share your thoughts and stay tuned to @pursebop for detailed video coverage.
Read related articles:
The Goyard Tote Price Guide 2023: USA vs Europe vs UK
Four Important Tips Safeguard Your Carry-On Luxury Luggage
The Ultimate Luxury Travel Guide: How To Do It Safely and Stylishly
Introducing The New Goyard Saigon Tot
Tips for Traveling Internationally with Valuable Bags and Luggage
Updated: October 16th, 2023
Comments
3 Responses to “My Goyard Treasure Hunt for the New Saigon Tote in Paris”
Thank you for always sharing with us
Hi,
Enjoyed reading about the Saigon tote.
Wanted to know your thoughts on the Goyard hardy sac? How is it compared to Saigon tote?
how hard is it it to find a saigon mini in paris?