Well at least if you’re in Chicago!

Louis Vuitton opened thier first in-store boutique in a Nordstrom on North Michigan Avenue.  Read more about the opening here.

We’d heard about the opening and were hoping that it would be unveiled when Emily and Ben were at eBay Live in Chicago this year at the end of June.  But alas- it didn’t finally open until just this week.

Lucky for us… vtachgyrl from The Purse Forum WAS able to check it out and got some really cool pictures of the Norstrom Louis Vuitton window display that she’s graciously let me share.  I think it’s so interesting.  Take a peek:

Yes, those are Louis Vuitton Neverfull bags being blown in the wind by steel industrial fans.

I’m trying to get my tiny little brain wrapped around this.  I keep thinking about the scene in the Louis Vuitton & Marc Jacobs documentary where LV upper-ups are walking around like this huge area with all of the display windows that are to be used all over the world.  I’m wondering what Arnault, Carcelle, etc would think about the concept.

What do you think Nordies LV is trying to say?

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OK, I’ve just always absolutely loved Louis Vuitton’s “That’s LVOE” t-shirt.  The one Sienna Miller’s wearing in the picture above.  It’s a great style for the summer- but it’s discontinued.

Well, we’ve got a That’s LVOE tshirt that we’re selling for a client of ours.  It’s got a wide neckline, and some of our buyers couldn’t tell what it looked like on… so with just a little arm twisting, we convinced my sister in law Julia to put it on for some pictures.   IMO, she’s giving international super-star, model & actress, Sienna a run for her money.  She looks pretty dang hot (and no airbrushing involved!)

Go ahead and CLICK HERE to take a look at the eBay auction for more pictures and measurments of this one!

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Whenever I see these little video guides- I just think to myself, why didn’t they get someone on there who knows what they are talking about. This is Molly Wood for CNet- Spotting Designer Knockoffs Online. “How To Tell Phonies From The Real McCoy!“  CBS’s put it on their morning show.  It was in response to the $61 million Louis Vuitton v eBay decision.  For example, here is the first hint on their website:

“… Louis Vuitton bags have five stitches across the top, the snaps all say Louis Vuitton, the color is specific. What should the zipper look like? Look for lots of clear, detailed photos with the listings. “     

(Which is partly true…. SOME Louis Vuitton bags have only five stitches across the top of the leather tab– the traditional monogram Speedys for example.  This is NOT true of all bags.  Some vintage bags do NOT have Louis Vuitton on the hardware.  Yes, look at the zipper and make sure it’s the right style for that bag.  And I agree, make sure there are good, detailed pictures.)

Hey, at least it isn’t as bad as my favorite worst video guide of all time.  Check it out if you haven’t.  It’s HILARIOUS!!! 

And, Molly… if you need a hand with one of those videos- give me a ring! You know I’d be happy to help you out.

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Hurry all my friends in the Aloha state!  The Ala Moana Center Louis Vuitton Boutique is hosting a special custom personalization event from now until Sunday during regular store hours.

This is a totally free offer to get your initials heat stamped on any small leather good- or handbag!  Not only is it free- but you get same day service…. no three day wait period.

Run, don’t walk ladies (and gents!)

(Yep, the set of custom painted Louis Vuitton Damier Alzer’s and Bisten’s is for sale.  Check our store!)

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(fake Louis Vuitton bag with tell-tale sample tag)

You know I blogged about the Hangzhou China Louis Vuitton Boutique getting closed because their bags were missing a sample tag.

Well, this has made me very curious.  I mean, Louis Vuitton has never used these tags (basically little swatches of the main material used so that a buyer would know what the bag is made of) before.  In fact, I always tell people that if they see a tag like the one pictured above (which you do on fakes- like, all the time), it’s just not authentic (and yes, the bag pictured above is fake).  Louis Vuitton hasn’t used them.

But it sounds like Louis Vuitton will start using this type of tag in China in compliance with the Administration for Industry and Commerce.

Christopher Zanardi-Landi, president of Louis Vuitton China, said that the company will obey the law of China fully and accept the orders. He also expressed his appreciation of the administration for pointing out the problem. He promised that the company will actively cooperate with law-enforcement departments and properly handle customer complaints.

Ha!  I think it’s LOL funny that counterfeiters are so careful to comply with Administration for Industry and Commerce regulations when selling their fake wares.  I mean the whole replica item is illegal and should be destroyed if found by the proper authorities- and yet, it’s got the tag!

So my question to you, my wonderful readers, is… have any of you seen one of these tags?  I’d love to see a picture of what Louis Vuitton is doing to comply.  I can’t imagine they’d use the same hideous tag that’s used on all the fakes (the weird shape in the picture above).  But maybe that’s the law?

(As an aside, I don’t think the tags are a bad idea…  I mean, if I had a nickle for every time someone asked me whether the traditional Monogram Canvas bags were all leather…)

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… in the family (or so it seems from the picture).  But he also carries her purse.

How sweet.  Guy’s got Madge’s Louis Vuitton Richard Prince Pulp Weekender in one hand and her hand in the other.

They’re out for a romantic dinner.  Just the two of them (and 1500 paparazzi trying for a pic after the divorce stories started flying last week.)

(Picture Credit: Pacific Coast News Online)

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(Kanye at Louis Vuitton’s Menswear Spring/Summer ‘08-09, Paris Fashion Weeek last Friday)

Well, we heard the rumors back in early April- and so many people doubted… but it looks like he got it done.  WWD’s scooping that Kanye’s inked a deal with Louis Vuitton to work together on a line of men’s shoes.  He and Pharrell et al have taken this nerd look to a whole new level.  (Basically, think anything Weird Al would don in one of my favorite videos of all time… If you haven’t seen this video, check it out below. It’s a classic and a must!)

I’m really interested in what he’s gonna come up with, aren’t you?

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We knew they’d appeal… but here is eBay’s official media response (From the eBay Ink blog, read more here)

The bolded parts are particularly interesting to me…

“eBay Inc issued the following statement:
If Counterfeits appear on our sites we take them down swiftly, but today’s ruling is not about our fight against counterfeit; today’s ruling is about an attempt by LVMH to protect uncompetitive commercial practices at the expense of consumer choice and the livelihood of law-abiding sellers that eBay empowers everyday.

We believe that this ruling represents a loss not only for us but for consumers and small businesses selling online, therefore we will appeal. It is clear that eBay has become a focal point for certain brand owners’ desire to exact ever greater control over e-commerce. We view these decisions as a step backwards for the consumers and businesses whom we empower everyday.

We believe that the overreach manifests itself through an attempt to impose, in France, a business model that restricts consumer choice through an anti-competitive business practice.

The ruling also seeks to impact the sale of second-hand goods as well as new genuine products, effectively reaching into homes and rolling back the clock on the Internet and liberty it has created. The attempt to use the ruling to confuse the separate issues of counterfeit and restrictive sales suggests that counterfeit suits are being used by certain brand owners as a stalking-horse issue to reinforce their control over the market.

eBay does more and more to combat counterfeit. We invest more than $20 million each year to ensure counterfeit goods are found and removed. We partner with over 18,000 brand owners around the world to identify and successfully remove counterfeit goods and employ over 2,000 people to carry out this fight on a daily basis. When we find counterfeit goods on our sites we take it down.

Overzealous enforcement of restrictive sales practices are anti-competitive and give consumers a bad deal. This is recognised by European Union policy-makers who are seeking to create a better framework for online sales to promote e-commerce in Europe. We support a free and fair market in Europe and the benefits this will bring for our sellers.

eBay will continue to fight against counterfeit and continue to fight for consumer value through the promotion of e-commerce.

What do you think?

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Ouch… a Paris Court ordered eBay to pay $63 million in damages to Louis Vuitton for negligence in allowing the sales of counterfeit Louis Vuitton on the website.  (Read more about it here…)

You have to hand it to Louis Vuitton.  They got the job done.  They single handedly lit a fire under the figurative backside of eBay Inc, and got them to do what needed so much to be done… to clean up the marketplace.

The court decision makes so much sense to me… and obviously eBay is appealing, but the fake situation on eBay was SO bad for SO long… it’s not shocking that the courts would lay down a heavy hand.

Let’s face it.  eBay has made a lot, and I mean a LOT of money on the sale of counterfeit goods on their site.  (I’m estimating on average eBay sells about 16,000 Louis Vuitton items a month at an average sales price of $375 with average start prices of $175.  That makes the average fee for Louis Vuitton items at about $17.  Multiply that times 192,000 items a year… and we’re looking at $3.8 million in fees annually for the LV brand alone.  LV’s claim of 90% fake on eBay was probably about right until the big overhaul in fall 2006… so you do the math.)

I mean, we (putting myself with the collective community of online shoppers to whom authenticity absolutely essential) had been almost badgering eBay for years and years to do something… and yet the situation on eBay just literally got worse and worse. The countless fakes, the one day auctions, the zero feedback seller with 50 NWT LV listings, the fake second chance offers, the $75 BINs for $1000 bags.  I mean, now we ask where all the buyers have gone?

They said that nothing more could be done- they were doing all they could, they’re just a venue, yada, yada, yada.  A few years ago, I could go through a whole page of Louis Vuitton listings on eBay and literally not find a single authentic bag.

That is not the situation now.  The vast majority of Louis Vuitton listings on eBay today are authentic.

So if eBay was just a venue, and was doing all they could do… what happened?

Tiffany & Co and Louis Vuitton sued.  eBay woke up.  They turned on the lights, swept the place out, cleaned the place up, batten down the hatches and locked the doors.

It was hard for all of us to adjust at first, but eBay has taken the right first steps to improve the atmosphere and the trust level that we all needed in a platform to be able to sell authentic luxury goods online.

eBay now monitors closely brands that are frequently counterfeited.  There are restrictions on how long you have to be selling on the site to list those brands, and how many you can list at once.  There is particular wording watched for that gives red flags that a listing may be fraudulent.  Brands that are watched don’t get listed immediatley, but go through and overview process for up to 10 hours before they hit the site.

eBay has come a long way, baby!

So I’m fine with the damages awarded by the Parisian Court…

What is frightening part to me:

Part of that ruling includes payment of 3.25 million Euros to Christian Dior, Givenchy, Kenzo and Guerlain for allowing perfume to be sold outside of the “authorized network”.

The result of this part of the decision is that eBay is completely barred from listing these cosmetic and perfume brands on its site PERIOD.

eBay’s “official response”:

“Today’s ruling is not about our fight against counterfeits; today’s ruling is about an attempt by LVMH to protect uncompetitive commercial practices at the expense of consumer choice and the livelihood of law-abiding sellers that EBay empowers everyday,” EBay said in an e-mailed statement. “We will fight this ruling on their behalf.”

Yipes?  So I get J’adore Dior perfume for my birthday and never use it (which I did, and I don’t… it’s just not my favorite).  I now can’t list it on eBay because I am not a member of the authorized distribution network for Christian Dior?

Hmmm… got to get back to you when I look into this more.

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Yeah… I know I just posted about Claudia and her Louis Vuitton Monogram Motard Minaudière.

But since then, she’s been carrying it everwhere…  I thought it warranted a good picture!

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