In 1892, Edmond Goyard made a canvas out of a family story. The dotted pattern points back to the log drives his ancestors worked, and the dots stack into a triple chevron shaped like a Y, the central letter of the Goyard name. Then he did something no Parisian trunk-maker had done before: he signed it, the way a painter signs a painting. That is the whole idea of a Goyard backpack, really. It is a signature you can carry on one shoulder.

The house itself is older than the canvas. Pierre-François Martin opened his box-making and packing workshop in 1792, François Goyard started there as a 17-year-old apprentice in 1845, and when Louis-Henri Morel died in 1852 he took over and put his own name on the door. The canvas is now printed by machine, but the owner's initials are still painted by hand, and Goyard sells nothing online. That is why everything below is pre-owned, and I would treat that as a feature: you get to read the condition before you commit.

Start with black and tan, the combination most people picture. The Alpin Mini in black and tan is the small, sweet version, with a tan leather flap, base and adjustable straps. The Goyardine calfskin Mini Alpin in black and gold has a warmer, golden-brown trim, and the orange-tan flap on the third Alpin Mini is the loudest of the three. If you need real room, the Saint Leger in black and tan is a flat-bottomed briefcase backpack with a top handle, big enough for a laptop day.

For October I would wear the Mini with a camel coat and straight jeans, and the Saint Leger with a gray suit on a commute. Before you buy any of them, check the leather corners, the edges of the flap and the straps, because that is where a backpack shows its age first.

A colored Goyard is a different bag from a black one, and the fastest test is the sunlight test: check the canvas edges and the chevron dots near the corners, where color wears first. The navy Saint Leger in this group, two of them, is the quiet pick. It has the same flat bottom and top handle as the black version, and one of the pair adds a shoulder strap, which makes it easier to swap between backpack and briefcase mode.

The green Saint Leger is the one I would choose for a weekday with gray trousers and a black knit. The red one is bolder and looks best against dark outerwear, a charcoal overcoat, say. The gray Saint Leger is the most neutral of the colors and goes with everything in a fall wardrobe.

Then come the Alpin Minis in blue and green. The light blue Mini is dated 2026, and the green ones are 2025 and a plain green. Goyard released the Alpin in December 2015, and the brand describes it as a clever model made to be worn in different ways, with an adjustable strap and a leather key. Try both carries on a mirror before you decide.

What I would skip: a color you only like on a screen. These shades photograph differently under store lights, so ask for a daylight photo of the canvas and the leather trim before you commit.

Goyard's own words for the Alpin are simple: a clever model designed to be worn in different ways, with an adjustable strap and a leather secured key. The Mini is the small one, and the Alpin comes in just two sizes, the MM and the Mini, so this is the size I would reach for on a day without a laptop. Phone, wallet, lip balm and a paperback, that is about it.

The black Alpin Mini from 2023 is the starting point, and the black and tan Mini with its leather flap is the one most people want. The white Mini and the two orange Minis are more of a statement, especially against a navy knit and dark denim. If you want a pop of color for fall, the orange one with a camel coat is a good case for it. The black Goyardine calfskin Mini and the gray version with a gray leather flap are the quietest options in the group.

On a pre-owned Mini, look hard at the leather straps and the flat base, then the drawstring and roller buckle area. Check that the canvas has no cracking along folds, and ask for the date code and papers when they exist. I would also hold the straps up to see that they hang evenly.

What I would skip: a white one that looks too clean in listing photos. White canvas shows every mark, and condition notes matter more here than anywhere else.

Rare is a loose word with Goyard. The chevron on the canvas stays the same, but the shapes change, and some of these are not the Alpin at all. The white Janson is listed as discontinued and rare, with a front buckle flap, an adjustable rear strap and a dustbag. It is about 9 inches long and 12 inches high, a compact, odd little shape that you will not see on every commuter.

The Cisalpin is the taller cousin, in black, black and gold, and a jet black MM with leather and jacquard straps and a top zip. It has two flat handles and sits far more upright than an Alpin, which suits a long walk or a flight. The black MM is listed as new, and the others in this group are listed in very good or excellent condition.

Then the Saint Leger, in black, three times, plus a chevron version. It is the roomiest of the lot, 14 inches high, 13 inches wide and 6 inches deep, which is why I would call it the work backpack in the edit. Pair it with a black trench and flat boots for a commute.

For any of these, inspect the zipper, the stitching where the straps meet the body and the inside lining, and ask how the canvas was stored. What I would skip: any listing that cannot show the interior and the strap anchors in clear light.

Travel bags are the natural second act, since Goyard began as a trunk maker and the house was making packing cases long before it made a backpack. Edmond Goyard became the head in 1885 and turned the shop on rue Saint-Honoré into an international name, so a duffle in the same chevron canvas feels like going back to the source.

The Boeing 55 is the one I would take on a holiday trip in November: a carry-on duffle, 22 inches long, with leather top handles, a lock and a key. There are two, one in brown and black and one in black and brown listed as new with tags. The smaller Boeing 45 in black and brown has a striped front and is made in France. The Croisiere 50 in blue is the wider one, 20 inches across, with a base shaper, keys and a lock, and it is the best match for the colored backpacks.

For smaller carries, the Belvedere II messenger in black, blue and gray all have flaps and long straps, and the gray PM is the tiny one. The black Majordome 60 is a long, structured travel bag with leather top handles.

Check the lock and key numbers match, and look at the corners and handle bases, where luggage takes its beating. What I would skip: a duffle that is missing its lock or key, since replacing a set is a hassle on a bag you want to use for travel.

If I were choosing one, I would decide by what I carry. A laptop means a Saint Leger. A phone and a coat pocket means an Alpin Mini. A weekend away means a Boeing.

Then check condition in order: the corners, the leather trim, the hardware, the canvas dots, and the papers. Pre-owned is the only way in, so be a slow shopper.

Edmond Goyard signed his canvas in 1892, and every bag here still carries that signature. I would carry mine with the corners checked and the monogram, if there is one, left alone. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Goyard Tote and Lululemon Backpack Guide.