Pre-owned Louis Vuitton

Start with the Twist. It is a flap bag in firm leather, often Epi with its raised grain, and it closes with a metal clasp shaped as the house initials. You turn the clasp to open the flap and turn it back to lock it. The chain runs through rings at the top corners, so you wear it short on the shoulder or let it hang long across the body.

On a used Twist, look at the clasp first. The plating on the initials rubs with every open and close, and a well-carried one shows a dull patch where thumb and finger meet the metal. The chain links wear against each other and against the rings, so the finish goes there next. Then run a hand along the edge of the flap. The paint on the leather edge can chip at the corners, and the base corners scuff where the bag is set down. Inside, feel the lining for stiffness or a lifted seam.

The rest of the catalogue covers the day. The Alma is the domed bag with a top handle and a zip across the full width. The Pochette is the flat bag that takes a phone, cards and keys. The Neverfull is the open tote for the office and the plane, and the OnTheGo is the firmer tote that holds its shape when you set it down. The Speedy is the soft bag with rolled handles, usually in coated canvas, and the canvas is the first thing to check on a used one. The Keepall began as luggage, the duffle for a weekend away. The Capucines is the bag whose flap you wear tucked in or turned out.

Beyond the bags, Kove carries Louis Vuitton shoes, accessories and clothing. On every Kove page the condition is described piece by piece, marks of use included, and the published price is the final one.