*This review is not sponsored but I borrowed this bag for free from Fashionphile as part of their new influencer loan program. So thank you to Fashionphile for letting me borrow this bag for a month!
So as I disclosed up top, I got to borrow this bag for free from Fashionphile for a month. I had my choice of any bag under $5k, in excellent condition or lower (so not a “giftable” item), and not an Hermes. In my opinion, those are some generous terms. And I took them up on their offer by borrowing this Goyard Sac Cap Vert in green. Honestly this wouldn’t have been a bag I bought because of 1) my dislike of the St. Louis Tote (see my review of the Goyard St. Louis bag here and its subsequent feature in my luxury “worsts” category here) and 2) I don’t usually go for such colorful bags. But if it’s just to try out for a month for free, I thought it would be fun to go for a bag I wouldn’t normally purchase. And well would I buy it now after trying it for a month? It’s a definite possibility.
First off, this camera-bag style crossbody bag is super practical in that it can fit all the essentials (for me that’s a phone, compact wallet, sunglasses with case, sunscreen, lip balm, and small hand sanitizer). There’s a flat pocket inside that can fit smaller items and a flat pocket on the outside that fit my iPhone (not the max size). I like the convenience of the outside flat pocket and use it often, but I wouldn’t recommend using that pocket if you’re worried about security. I also use the Apple iPhone case that’s a bit rubbery so the phone fits snugly in there, but I think with a smoother/less grippy case your phone might be more prone to falling out. You can see a short video of what fits in the Goyard Sac Cap Vert here (also embedded below).
The strap is adjustable and a good enough width that it doesn’t dig into the shoulder. The leather crossbody strap is heavily coated so that it does feel a bit like plastic. In fact if you’re a real leather lover, this bag might not be for you because overall it’s quite plasticky. But if you’re okay paying a bit extra for the print (which I think used to be hand-painted but not anymore) on plastic (aka coated canvas) I think you’ll enjoy this practical bag. I actually started to appreciate its more plastic qualities when I went to an outdoor space that was having it’s misters going full blast. My bag was getting wet but instead of fretting over it, I just enjoyed the mist. Honestly I wouldn’t have had as good of a time if I had brought one of my Loewe or Hermes leather bags because I know I would have been constantly wiping away the water and trying not to get the bag wet. It was this experience that made me think about buying the bag.
I also appreciate the color of the bag. I never thought I would love a racing green colored bag (my only other green bag is my old Celine soft cube bag that’s a dark green). But I’ve realized that since I wear mostly neutral colored clothing, a nice pop of color is especially striking. And it works great for the summer months.
My only gripe is that sometimes when I pick up the bag, it’s flips upside down. The buckles where the crossbody attaches can easily flip so if I’m quickly grabbing the bag by the straps, it can sometimes be upside down and my phone can fall out (most times the rubbery grip of the case saves it from falling out but that pocket is a tad shallow for a phone). So instead I got into the habit of grabbing it by the body of the bag and then slinging the crossbody over my shoulder. It’s not a big deal but just something to be mindful of. I would love it if Goyard came out with a similar style that had a fixed top handle that would make it right side up at all times. [March 2025 update: Knowing what I know now, about the softening of the canvas over time, I realize that grabbing the bag from the body and basically squishing it to pick it up will cause the bag to lose its structure even quicker. Already the top part where I kept pinching it was getting a tad caved in. It wasn’t super noticeable but I noticed, and that was only for a month. I imagine years of doing this will cause a permanent softening of the canvas there.]
I should also mention that even though I thought the Goyard canvas to be flimsy on the St. Louis tote, on this Sac Cap Vert bag the canvas feels sturdier. I’m thinking it’s probably because of the smaller form factor and the difference in construction, even if the canvas is the same.
And lastly about the price and fakes. Because Goyard isn’t as easy to obtain (no online shop) the resale price tends to be the same as retail price (as of 2024 I believe this bag is $2240 before tax). This is great for those who choose to sell their Goyard bags, but for buyers it means you aren’t getting a particularly great deal. Add to that the fact that Goyard is highly faked and usually faked well, and it makes it a tad risky to purchase Goyard bags secondhand. This one to me seems legit (though I’m no expert), and came with a full set (tags and dust bag). Also because it’s Fashionphile, you can see the bag and decide to return it hassle-free if you have any doubts (and that’s why Fashionphile has always been one of my favorite resellers). But definitely buyer beware.
As for me, I returned the bag even though I I liked it. The original price of the bag on Fashionphile was about $400 over retail, and TBH I don’t know if I would pay over retail for it considering there’s a Goyard boutique in SF. I know I might not be able to get the exact same bag right now at the boutique, but I wouldn’t mind hunting it down and waiting for it. Or maybe purchase it in Europe if I go there in the future. It would make for a great souvenir. I love the bag and I’m pretty sure I’ll buy one someday, but I just don’t need it right now.
March 2025 Try-on with black/tan and dark navy
March 2025 Update: I just went into the Goyard SF boutique and the price is now around $2400 before tax. I was talking with the Sales Associate and she was telling me that the canvas softens a bit over time and will become less structured with wear. Also the strap is on the shorter side so that even at the longest setting (which is what I’m wearing it at) it’s a slightly short crossbody. When I was wearing it though I didn’t have a problem but I’m 5’4” (taller gals might find this to be a short crossbody bag). Anyway I was thinking of buying the Cap Vert at the store and they had all the colors there. But I ended up going home with something else! I might still get it in the future but for now another crossbody won me over. I’ll link the review of that bag here when I post it.