The Saint Louis is the Goyard tote most people picture first: a light, reversible open-top bag with leather handles and a removable pouch. If you are choosing between PM and GM, the real decision is not status or trend. It is whether you want an everyday tote that stays fairly compact, or a larger carryall for work, travel, or parent-bag duty.
The bag still makes sense because it does a few practical things very well. It weighs very little, folds flat, takes bulky items without fighting you, and turns inside out if needed. It is also worth being clear about what it is not: the Saint Louis is not a full leather tote, and it is not a zip-top work bag.
Heritage & History
Goyard dates to 1853, which puts it among the older French luggage and leather-goods houses still in business. The Saint Louis name refers to King Louis IX of France, and Goyard's current product copy still describes the bag as having started life as a beach bag.
That origin story explains most of the bag's design. The Saint Louis is open, flexible, unlined, and reversible because it was meant to be easy to shake out, flip, and keep moving. Those same traits are why it still works so well today as a travel tote, errand bag, or easy everyday carryall.
Originally a Beach Bag
Goyard's own description says you could reverse the bag after a day at the beach and take wet things home with the Goyardine on the inside. Whether or not you use it that way now, the beach-bag logic still matters. It is why the Saint Louis feels so different from a structured tote with a lining, feet, pockets, and zipper.
The shopping model has shifted a bit. Goyard still keeps distribution tighter than most big luxury brands, but some Saint Louis PM and GM personalization pages now appear on Goyard's U.S. site as in-stock items with shipping and returns sections. In practice, many buyers still end up working through boutiques or department-store concessions for the exact color and size they want.
Design & Materials
The Saint Louis is a coated-canvas tote with leather trim, not a leather tote with a printed finish. Goyard's current PM and GM pages list Goyardine canvas, Chevroches calfskin, and a linen-and-cotton inner side. That combination is what keeps the bag so light.
Key Design Elements
- Goyardine Canvas
- The coated chevron canvas that gives the bag its structure, weather resistance, and light feel.
- Chevroches Calfskin
- Leather trim and handles that take most of the strain when the bag is carried full.
- Open-Top Design
- No zipper, so you can get in and out quickly. The trade-off is that your things stay more exposed.
- Fully Reversible
- Turn the bag inside out to show the plain inner side instead of the chevron canvas.
- Detachable Pouch
- A flat pouch attached to one handle for smaller items you do not want floating loose in the tote.
- Leather Fastener
- Current PM and GM online pages show a removable Croc Universel fastener across the top opening. It helps, but it is still not a zip closure.
The bag is unlined, which is a big part of why it weighs so little. On Goyard's current U.S. pages, the PM is listed at 300 g and the GM at 390 g. Hardware stays minimal and the removable pouch does most of the organizational work.
The St. Louis is intentionally soft and unstructured — it has no rigid base or metal feet. That makes it easy to fold flat in luggage, but it also means the bag will not stand upright on its own when empty.
Colors
The standard palette is broader than many people think. Black and black-with-tan trim are the easiest classic options to find, but the Saint Louis also appears in grey, navy, green, sky blue, burgundy, red, orange, yellow, and white. Special finishes such as Pearly or multicolored editions are harder to find and usually cost more.
Sizes & Dimensions
The sizes most people actually compare are PM and GM. Goyard has also offered an oversized XXL, while the smaller Junior is now a resale-market piece rather than a current-store option.
| Size | Dimensions (cm) | Dimensions (in) | Strap Drop | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM (Petit Modèle) | 34 × 15 × 28 | 13.4 × 5.9 × 11.0 | 18 cm (7.1") | 300 g |
| GM (Grand Modèle) | 40 × 20 × 32 | 15.7 × 7.9 × 12.6 | 19 cm (7.5") | 390 g |
| XXL (Oversize) | About 50 × 23 × 40 | About 19.7 × 9.1 × 15.7 | Varies | Varies |
Note: The PM and GM figures above come from Goyard's current U.S. product pages. The XXL is much less consistently documented online, so the listed measurements should be read as approximate reference dimensions from resale-market listings rather than an official current spec sheet.
St. Louis PM vs GM
- PM: Better if you want the Saint Louis look without carrying a noticeably large tote every day. It fits the basics, sits a little neater on the body, and makes more sense for errands, lunch, or general city use.
- GM: Better if you regularly carry a laptop, papers, a bottle, children's items, or travel extras. It is the size that feels like a true carryall rather than just a roomy handbag.
- XXL: More beach bag or weekender than daily tote. It is a niche size for bulk, not the default Saint Louis most shoppers mean.
Pricing Guide
Current Verified Price Reference
Goyard still does not publish a simple universal price list, but its current U.S. Saint Louis personalization pages do give us a verified 2026 reference point. Those figures are for the online personalization configuration, not necessarily every standard boutique-stock combination.
| Size | Current U.S. price ref. | What the current page confirms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM (small) | $1,960 | 34 × 15 × 28 cm, 300 g, in-stock personalization page | Verified on Goyard U.S. site in April 2026 |
| GM (large) | $2,170 | 40 × 20 × 32 cm, 390 g, in-stock personalization page | Verified on Goyard U.S. site in April 2026 |
| XXL | Not consistently published online | Mostly resale or boutique-led reference | Treat any online figure as market-dependent |
What to do with those numbers: If you are comparing against older guides, use them as proof that Saint Louis pricing has moved up again by 2026. If you are buying in a boutique, expect some variation by market, stock type, and whether you are looking at a standard bag or a personalized one. For price ranges across the full Goyard lineup, see our 2026 Goyard price list.
Resale Market Prices
Resale pricing is easier to read if you separate sold prices from live asks. In our tracked resale sales, PM bags sold at a median of about $2,425 and GM bags at a median of about $2,640. Current asking prices tend to sit higher than that, especially for cleaner bags in brighter or rarer colors.
| Size | 25th percentile sold | Median sold | 75th percentile sold |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM | $1,887 | $2,425 | $2,942 |
| GM | $2,044 | $2,640 | $3,121 |
| XXL | $2,475 | $2,995 | $3,230 |
What Fits Inside
The GM is a true large tote and the PM is more of a generous everyday bag. Because the Saint Louis is soft and open, it also handles awkward shapes better than a boxier tote of the same listed measurements.
GM What Fits in the GM
- • 16" laptop with room to spare
- • Files and documents (A4)
- • Coffee mug, mouse, charger
- • Wallet, phone, keys, sunglasses
- • Beauty pouch
- • Gym clothes
- • Water bottle (500ml+)
- • Light cardigan or scarf
PM What Fits in the PM
- • Small tablet or e-reader
- • Long continental wallet
- • Phone, keys, AirPods
- • Sunglasses in case
- • Cosmetics pouch
- • Small water bottle
- • Light scarf
- (Not ideal for laptops)
Pro tip: Because the Saint Louis is unstructured, many owners use a felt organizer to add pockets and stop everything from dropping into one deep pile at the bottom.
Comfort & Wearability
The Saint Louis is easy to carry when it is lightly packed because the bag itself weighs so little. The comfort problem starts when people treat that low bag weight as permission to load it like a structured work tote.
Comfort Considerations
- Strap Drop
- About 18 cm on PM and 19 cm on GM on Goyard's current pages. That is enough for shoulder carry, but it sits high and can feel snug over thick coats.
- Heavy Loads
- The thin handles can dig in once you add a laptop, charger, bottle, and extras. The bottom also sags more as the load gets heavier.
- Casual Slouch
- The slouch is part of the appeal. The bag molds to your side and folds flat, but it never looks crisp or upright like an Artois.
Goyard's own advice: The current care guide says not to carry anything excessively heavy. That is the simplest way to think about it: great for light and medium loads, less convincing as a daily brick-hauling work bag.
Care & Durability
The Saint Louis handles normal daily wear well, but the common failure points are predictable: the bottom corners, the handle bend points, and any light canvas that picks up dye transfer. Think of it as durable for a light canvas tote, not durable in the way a heavy structured work bag is durable.
Care Tips
- Canvas Wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth and let it air dry. Avoid hard rubbing and rough surfaces, especially at the corners where the pattern wears first.
- Leather Clean handles with a soft cloth and do not over-condition them. Heavy use is what usually shows up first here.
- Water Light rain is usually fine. If the bag gets wet, dab it dry rather than rubbing.
- Color Transfer Dark denim and dark leather can stain lighter colors quickly. Be careful with new jeans and pale bags.
- Storage Store it stuffed with tissue in its dust bag, away from strong light, heat, and damp.
How the St. Louis Compares
St. Louis vs Goyard Artois
The Artois is the Saint Louis problem-solving version: same general tote family, but with a zipper, more structure, and leather corners that take the wear instead of bare canvas. For a side-by-side look at all three — Saint Louis, Artois, and Anjou — including weight, price, and day-to-day use, see our Goyard tote comparison guide.
| Feature | St. Louis | Artois |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | Open top + optional leather fastener | Full zippered top |
| Structure | Slouchy, unstructured | Structured, stands upright |
| Reversible | Fully reversible | One side only (canvas) |
| Interior | No pockets (just pouch) | Interior slip pocket |
| Corners | Soft canvas | Leather-reinforced |
| Weight (PM) | 300g | ~460g |
| Best For | Travel, errands, easy access | Commuting, work, security |
St. Louis vs Goyard Anjou
The Anjou keeps the Saint Louis idea but adds much more leather. It is still reversible, but the reverse side is leather rather than plain linen and cotton.
| Feature | St. Louis | Anjou |
|---|---|---|
| Interior | Canvas (unlined) | Leather interior |
| Reversible | Yes (canvas ↔ linen) | Yes (canvas ↔ leather) |
| Structure | Very slouchy | Slightly more structured |
| Weight (PM) | 300g | ~420g |
| Overall feel | Lighter and more casual | Heavier and dressier |
| Best For | Maximum volume, beach | City tote with a leather side |
St. Louis vs Louis Vuitton Neverfull GM
This is the comparison most cross-shoppers actually make: two famous canvas totes, but with very different priorities.
| Feature | Goyard St. Louis GM | LV Neverfull GM |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 40 × 20 × 32 cm | 39 × 12.5 × 30 cm |
| Closure | Open top | Magnetic clasp + side laces |
| Interior | No pockets (removable pouch) | Zippered pocket + key clasp |
| Structure | Slouchy, folds flat | Stands upright, flat base |
| Reversible | Yes | No |
| Weight | 390g | Heavier |
| Water Resistance | Coated canvas (good) | Coated canvas (moderate) |
| Brand look | Quieter from a distance | Bolder monogram look |
| Best For | Flexibility and low weight | Built-in organization |
The verdict: Choose the Saint Louis if you want the softer, lighter bag and do not need built-in organization. Choose the Neverfull if you want a flatter base, more structure, and a more obviously branded tote.
Where to Buy
Retail (New)
Goyard no longer fits the simple "boutique only, nothing online" description. Some Saint Louis PM and GM personalization pages are currently live on Goyard's U.S. site with shipping and returns details, but the full assortment still is not always easy to buy that way.
- Goyard website: Good for checking whether current Saint Louis personalization pages are live and what the latest verified U.S. reference pricing looks like.
- Goyard boutiques and concessions: Still the best route for standard stock, exact colors, and in-person comparison between PM and GM.
Resale (Pre-Owned)
The secondary market is active if you cannot get to a boutique or if you want a discontinued size, a rare color, or a sharper price.
- Luxury Resellers: Fashionphile, The RealReal, Rebag, and Farfetch Pre-Owned regularly list St. Louis totes.
- Auction Houses: Sotheby's and Christie's are useful for rarer colors and collector-oriented pieces.
Authentication Warning
Goyard is frequently counterfeited. When buying pre-owned, verify:
- Proper "Goyard Paris" stamps on interior leather
- Serial number heat-stamped on leather tag
- Hand-painted canvas pattern (fakes often have perfectly uniform, misaligned dots)
- Quality palladium hardware with smooth zipper action
Is the St. Louis Right for You?
The St. Louis is great if you...
- • Need maximum capacity in an ultralight bag
- • Want grab-and-go convenience (open top)
- • Prefer a tote that looks quieter from a distance
- • Travel frequently (folds flat, water-resistant)
- • Like a softer, more casual tote shape
- • Want something fully reversible
- • Carry light to moderate loads
The St. Louis might frustrate you if...
- • You need real top security
- • You carry very heavy items daily (straps dig)
- • You want a bag that stands upright on its own
- • You need internal organization (no pockets)
- • You work in formal corporate settings
- • You want shoulder strap comfort under heavy loads
- • You prefer structured, rigid silhouettes
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Goyard Guides
St. Louis vs Artois vs Anjou →
See how Goyard's three core totes differ on zipper, structure, weight, price, and day-to-day use.
Bohème Hobo Guide →
A softer shoulder-bag alternative if you like Goyard canvas but want a zipper and a wider strap.
Saïgon Bag Guide →
A trunk-inspired top-handle bag if you want something much more structured than the Saint Louis.
Hardy PM Guide →
A zip-top work tote with more structure and security if the Saint Louis feels too open.
Key Takeaways
- PM vs GM is the main decision: PM works better as an everyday tote; GM is the true carryall.
- Current verified U.S. price reference: Goyard's live personalization pages show PM from $1,960 and GM from $2,170 as of April 2026.
- Ultralight design: GM is listed at 390g and PM at 300g on current Goyard pages.
- Fully reversible: Show the Goyardine pattern or flip to plain linen.
- Open-top trade-off: Fast access and flexible carrying, but less security than a zip-top tote.
- Resale is strong, not uniform: Sold PMs cluster around the high-$1,800s to low-$2,900s; sold GMs around the low-$2,000s to low-$3,100s.
- Online buying is now possible in some cases: Some Saint Louis PM and GM personalization pages are currently live on Goyard's U.S. site, but boutiques still matter for the full assortment.