Louis Vuitton Malletier (pronounced /looee vwiton/ in English), commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton, or sometimes shortened to LV, is a French fashion company. Founded in 1854, one of the main divisions of LVMH is headquartered in Paris, France. Known especially for bags and trunks, the company collaborates with prominent figures for marketing and design (most notably supermodel Gisele Bündchen and fashion designer Marc Jacobs). Internationally renowned and highly regarded for name recognition in the fashion world, as a result LV has become one of the most counterfeited contemporary luxury brands.

LV is also one of the oldest fashion houses in the world, having started in 1854. It sells its products strictly through its own retail stores, small boutiques in high-end department stores, and online (as an effort against counterfeit). It primarily competes with Versace, Hermès, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Dior, Chanel, Fendi, Armani, Prada and other similar luxury fashion brands.

Louis Vuitton Launches Sneakers by Kanye West
Last night some members of the Purse Blog team (Megs, Vlad, Intern Joe and myself) had the opportunity to attend an exclusive launch party at the Louis Vuitton store in the Bal Harbor Shops. The event was a little different than what we are used to since the party was for sneakers and not handbags. As many of you know, Kanye West has teamed with Louis Vuitton to create high end designer sneakers. While Megs and I did try and convince Vlad and Joe to snag a pair, I think it is fair to say the sneaks aren’t really our cup-o-tea.

True, these shoes are rather unique (although, do they remind any of you of the old school Reebok high-tops?), but I don’t think I will be rushing out to buy them any time soon. However, there were plenty of others at the event last night that were walking away with boxes and boxes of these shoes. It may or may not come as a shock to you, but a lot of these shoes are close to sold out! Head over to your local LV store and grab some… if it’s your kind of thing.

Louis Vuitton Cruise 2010

Cruise show season is kind of odd - instead of having a proper Fashion Week where all of the collections are presented together, they’re released slowly in shows around America and Europe, each with very different backdrops and moods. For example, Chanel, a brand that always shows at Paris Fashion Week, chose to present its Cruise collection this year on a Venice boardwalk.

Louis Vuitton, another house that traditionally shows in Paris, didn’t have a real show at all - instead, the clothes were presented as we see them here. It’s a more understated choice for a more informal season and smaller collection, but that doesn’t mean the sailor-and-pinup-inspired clothes and accessories are any less exciting. In fact, they’re refreshingly clean and pretty, but with just enough 80s urban influence to put Louis Vuitton creative director Marc Jacobs’ signature spin on the retro looks.

Weekend Obsession: Fergie’s Louis Vuitton Ensemble

Fergie and the rest of the Black Eyed Peas made an appearance at the Paris Menswear Fashion Week’s Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2010 show at Le 104 on Thursday, June 25th. The only way to attend a designer show is decked out in their items from head to toe. Fergie had on the most amazing outfit from the Fall 2009 Louis Vuitton collection. Her dress was amazing, but her accessories topped the outfit off so perfectly that I cannot stop staring. This is why Fergie makes our weekend obsession list, as our love of the Louis Vuitton Satin Plisse Matelasse and the Louis Vuitton Cancan Shoes is taken to a new level.

Louis Vuitton introduces new Takashi Murakami Film: Superflat First Love

Louis Vuitton and Takashi Murakami go hand in hand now. But it was only six years ago when they first collaborated on the spring-summer 2003 season. We continue to be excited by new Louis Vuitton and Takashi Murakami collaborations and wait anxiously to hear about the new additions. For your viewing pleasure, Takashi Murakami has created a film animation to follow his Superflat Monogram film from 2003. The new filmed is dubbed the Superflat First Love.

Preview: Louis Vuiton Core Values Campaign

Louis Vuitton brought us news and an image of the new Louis Vuitton Core Values icons. Say farewell to the Coppolas and hello to three new exceptional figures. Louis Vuitton commemorates the 40th anniversary of man’s conquest of the Moon and features Buzz Aldrin, Jim Lovell, and Sally Ride as their Core Values icons.

The photograph by Annie Leibovitz is not only amazing but captivating, showing three individuals who have accomplished a similar feat which seemed unimaginable. Louis Vuitton has found a way to inspire with this Core Values Campaign and continues to reach above and beyond.

Event Recap: Cocktail Hour with Daniel Lalonde of Louis Vuitton
 
In rather hectic fashion, Shannon and I made our way to New York last Monday for the unique chance to meet and greet the Chief Operating Officer of Louis Vuitton North America, Mr. Daniel Lalonde. When we received the invitation last week whilst being on vacation, there was no real hesitation before realizing that we had to take advantage of this unique opportunity.

The Location

Shannon and I had high hopes that the event was going to take place in the flagship store on 5th Avenue, in our fantasies we had envisioned Vuitton clearing a whole floor off eager shoppers and letting the event attendees roam the palace freely.

The disappointment was only faint when a kind SA in the store pointed us to the adjacent building down 57th Street, where part of Louis Vuitton N.A.’s corporate headquarters are located. To my pleasant surprise, the showroom was presenting beautiful pieces of LV’s fall collection, some of which I captured on camera.

Louis Vuitton Donates to The Climate Project

Louis Vuitton North America announced that 15% of all sales made through their online store would be donated to The Climate Project. Louis Vuitton has been actively pursuing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and overall impact on the environment over the past few years. What better reason than to shop when you help a good cause?

We had the opportunity to pick brains at Louis Vuitton’s North American Corporate headquarters, read more about LV’s continued involvement below.

Louis Vuitton Monogram Graffiti Neverfull GM

I know that the Stephen Sprouse collections have been a bit controversial among the Louis Vuitton crowd, but for some reason, I can’t help but like them. Perhaps it’s because I’m a fan of the Sprouse aesthetic in general, or maybe because my generation is probably the target audience for pop-art fashion, or maybe it’s just because my personal taste can, at times, venture to the ridiculous. For whatever reason, I wish I had unlimited funds and a reason to own something like the Louis Vuitton Monogram Graffiti Neverfull GM.

As with all Neverfulls, I wish the strap was thicker, and if it was it would make a perfect school bag for a college kid that has everything (and I knew one or two of those during my undergrad years). Because of the utter ridiculousness of the bag - orange writing over brown and tan monogram - it’s one of those bags that you really wouldn’t need to try and match to anything. It’s iconic enough on it’s own that the only thing I would seriously advise against wearing it with would be another bold pattern. Other than that, go to town - wear it with whatever, but be proud. It’s the type of bag that you really have to own to pull it off

Louis Vuitton Monogram Vernis Cosmetic Pouch MM

I’ve been on the look recently for a very tiny pouch or wristlet to use as a clutch. I want something small enough to fit easily in my hand that will hold only the very essentials - house key, car key, ID, cash, phone. But the phone is where I’m hitting an impasse, because I have an enormous Blackberry with an even more enormous clear plastic shell to keep it safe (gotta brag for a minute - it’s one of the new click-screen ones! I love it!). As such, the thing is approximately the size of a small computer, and even if I can find a wristlet into which it fits, nothing else will fit alongside it. So I’ve decided to get a bit creative in my current search, and this morning came across something that could potentially work very well - the Louis Vuitton Monogram Vernis Cosmetic Pouch MM. I realize that it’s meant to hold lipsticks and whatnot inside of a larger bag, but since it doesn’t have cosmetic pouch emblazoned on it anywhere, I doubt anyone would know the difference. Besides, I’m all for repurposing things (kinda of like the tv stand holding the microwave in my kitchen. Ahem). At any rate, it looks like it’s just small enough to fit in my hand while being just big enough to contain my giant brick of a phone, and it zips all the way across the top, lest I drop it or hit anyone in the head with it. Perfect! On top of all that, amarante is my favorite color of LV vernis ever and would go really well with all the black I tend to wear. Now if only LV ever went on sale.

Louis Vuitton Monogram Roses Stole

Our friend Marc Jacobs sure does love to court trouble. He overshares about his personal life, tattoos random things on his body, and dates more men that most college sorority girls (don’t take offense, ladies - I, too, was a college sorority girl). And ever since Mr. Marc took over as the creative head of Louis Vuitton, their yearly accessories collections have become hipper, younger, and dare I say, edgier. As a throwback to the Stephen Sprouse graffiti collection of years past, Sprouse’s artwork has been used to adorn handbags, scarves, sarongs, and various small accessories for 2009.

Sprouse was a pop artist and punk icon of the 1980s, and the loud colors and louder shapes of his work reflect the exuberance of youth culture during that decade. I adored the leopard print Sprouse scarf that made such a big impression last year, and in this year’s full collection of the artist’s inspired work, my favorite is, again, a scarf - The Louis Vuitton Monogram Roses Stole. It’s bright pink and red with huge pop art roses, and it makes me smile just looking at it. It takes a talented man to make a floral print into something edgy and punk, don’t you think? Some people love this stuff, and some people hate it, but our own Louis Vuitton forum proves that everyone loves to talk about it - and that seems to be Marc Jacobs’s entire intention

Louis Vuitton Monogram Roses Speedy

The Stephen Sprouse Tribute Collection at Louis Vuitton continues to trickle into eLuxury. First only accessories were showing, now if you act quickly, you can have a piece of the Monogram Roses collection. The Speedy, Neverfull, and Pochette are available now, all showcasing the fluorescent rose pattern which is screen printed onto the canvas through 15 frames, perfectly re-creating the essence of Sprouse’s style of brush painting. I opted out of the Speedy, since I got the Watercolor Speedy last may. But I will be owning one piece from the Roses collection, one piece from the Graffiti collection, and we bought the awesome Book!

Louis Vuitton Card Deck Set

Folks, we’ve done it. I think. Maybe I’m being optimistic. But, with the advent of the Louis Vuitton Card Deck Set, I think it may be possible for someone with enough money and enough dedication to go through their entire day without deigning to use a product that’s not luxury branded. We’ve covered Chanel and Hermes bicycles, Gucci makes wallpaper, Fendi makes bedding, Versace makes furniture. And now, your husband won’t just be playing poker with the guys, he’ll be playing Louis Vuitton poker. And that won’t get him made fun of by his buddies AT ALL, I promise.

Eluxury promises that this set includes three “luxurious” decks of cards, so please, help me brainstorm in the comments - exactly how does one make playing cards luxurious? The first thing that came to my mind was having the symbols ever so carefully covered in close-cropped mink, making them slightly furry. How would you do it?

Louis Vuitton Candy Scarf

So, I got TI’s new CD, “Paper Trail,” a few days ago and there’s a song on it that I really like called “Swing Ya Rag.” It’s a song you’ll probably hear on radio eventually, and if you like to go out and dance, you’ll probably hear it even sooner. When singing along in my car (yes, I rap alone in my car. You should try it), I can’t help but notice how much he mentions Louis Vuitton and Gucci “rags,” which I’m assuming must be scarves. Mostly, while rapping, I mistakenly say “bag” instead of “rag” because I think I’ve developed some weird sort of mild, purse-related Tourette’s, but I digress. These “rags” are apparently swung above the head, in lieu of dancing, at clubs.

So, I couldn’t help but ask myself: if I were to swing a rag, what rag would I swing? And today, I would swing the Louis Vuitton Candy Scarf/rag. It has a fun, pop-art sensibility to it that reminds me of the jelly-filled jewelry I used to have as a little kid in the 80s. That jewelry had glitter and other tiny, shiny treasures floating in the brightly-colored goo inside, the the arrangement of the LV logos and stars in this scarf look like someone has squeezed all the floating goodness towards the edges. It’s casual, glam, and a lot of fun - perfect for the type of rag-swinging that TI seems to be advocating

Louis Vuitton Heart Coin Purse

Right around the corner is Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite Hallmark Holidays. Not a necessity, and totally just a reason to be pampered, but I absolutely love it. This year Vlad and I will spend the day very low key, as a mere week after we have our wedding. I am thinking a nice dinner and love movie at home. If I were hoping for a gift, I would be completely thrilled with the Louis Vuitton Heart Coin Purs