I know that lives have been lost- and there is so much more at stake, but this is an interesting Wall Street Journal article about the attacks yesterday in India- and specifically, the effect on the the Louis Vuitton, Fendi and Bulgari boutiques in the historic Taj Hotel that saw so much devistation.

The Oberoi Trident Hotel also was attacked and it looks like some of the employees from Salvatore Ferragamo have even been held hostage

The whole story is just devistating.  We’re really hoping and praying that the situation in India will come to a peaceful conclusion ASAP.

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I thought this was an interesting article from Marketing Daily on Louis Vuitton’s marketing and particularly their online focus in the last couple years.

Quote from Heather Vandenberghe, Louis Vuitton’s vice president of marketing:

 “Sixty percent of people who visit our Web site are going into the store after doing their research online. They walk in and know what they want. Our average purchase has gone up since the Web site [launched].”

Ironically, I’d say over 95% of the folks who buy from our “store”, also research online at LouisVuitton.com.

Picture Credit: animalnewyork.com

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Oh shoot!  So, the story is that this business guy staying at the Beverly Hills Hotel (you can see this outside our window- directly across the street from our office!) was seduced by a woman… they went to his room, he poured some drinks, and next thing he knows- he’s waking up in a drugged stuper after sleeping like a baby till 9:30 am!

The woman had taken off with $35,000 worth of stuff:  Louis Vuitton wallet, Hermes watch, Prada shaving kit, Rolex watch, Ray Bans, Dolce & Gabbana shirts, etc. etc.

Detectives are looking for more guys who may have had a similar thing happen, but were too embarrassed to report it.  They’re promising anonymity to victims of similar crimes and are giving out the Beverly Hills detective hotline at (310) 288-2656 for tips.

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Wow.  It looks like London socialite, Taiwanese Rebecca Wang just lost a nice chunk of her collection to a burglar who either has great taste in all things luxury or more likely- sees the resale value in them.  The thief took off with handbags and jewelry including:

1. SEVEN Hermes Birkin handbags valued at more than $75,000
2. Two pieces of luggage and four bags by Louis Vuitton valued at $15,000
3. A Cartier diamond ring worth $61,000
4. A $31,000 Chanel gold and diamond bracelet watch
5. Antique diamond jewelry
6. $20,000 in cash

She’s seeking $1.4 million from the owners of the Mayfair apartment that she rented for $9,000 a week because the alarm was defective (so her “general factotum” who was in the building-wasn’t alerted to what was going on in her residence).  And because the owners knew that she was “an extr-emely wealthy woman”, and yet, only supplied her a small safe.

The safe wasnt’ big enough for all of her valuables, so she created a “secure room”… that apparently wasn’t secure.

Read the whole story in The Independent…

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Well, whether baby daddy is her married paramour- ex-presidential candidate John Edwards or the also married, Andrew Young (John Edwards’ campaign “Director of Operations”): one thing is clear.   Rielle Hunter has made some pretty bad choices in men.  (Understatement of the YEAR).

But this isn’t a political blog, or even a gossip blog.  It’s a blog about bags!  So… at least I can say that Rielle Hunter has great taste in bags!  Love the National Enquirer picture above, of Rielle with her Louis Vuitton Azur Saleya MM!

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Scary.  It looks like a couple of thieves dressed in black smashed through the front window of the Louis Vuitton Boutique in beautiful Carmel.  They took off with between $70,000- $80,000 worth of bags.

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Wow.  Check out this sad article about a woman who just had $20,000 worth of her ”largest, most valuable and newest” handbags stolen out of her closet in her home- while she was out during the day.  Apparently the thieves climbed in a bathroom window. 

She lost Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Coach etc.

Locks, alarm systems and insurance, folks… just a reminder.

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Must have been an LV!

I know it’s not a good idea, but I definitely have a few favorite bags- that, placed in the same circumstances, I’d probably hold on just as tight!  

Amazing footage.  The woman kept her bag- and although was probably totally freaked out, came out relatively unscathed.  

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WWD:  Hmm… apparently even luxury retailers aren’t immune from the current economic slowdown.  It looks like stock in LVMH and France’s PPR (who owns Gucci etc) have seen their stock take a relative nosedive.

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Hmmm, interesting article from The New York Times about the policies of many Luxury retailers who put a limit on the number of luxury bags you can buy.

Interesting tidbits:

• Quotas for boutique & online purchases
• SA at Louis Vuitton (speaking anonymously said customers will be asked “why” if more than one item is sought)
• Policy meant to prevent items from being resold
• Similar practice followed in Paris since early 2000- especially to target Asian shoppers

Of course, we don’t discriminate here at FASHIONPHILE!  If you ever find yourself shut out from being able to buy the luxe bags that you are looking for- be sure to check FASHIONPHILE!

We’d be happy to offer you anything that we sell on our www.fashionphile.com website or our weekly authentic auctions on eBay.com!

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