Yep… you read that right.  Price decrease!  And a full 7% price cut at that!!!

As of today- November 29… if you’re living in or traveling in Japan, you can pick up most Louis Vuitton things- bags, watches, shoes and RTW at any of the 56 Japanese stores at the new decreased prices.

Louis Vuitton has historically adjusted prices in response to the fluctuation of the markets.  We have seen that in the US… when the value of the dollar against the pound, euro and yen has been weak- we see the resulting price increase.

The yen is currently particularly strong against the euro- and LVMH says that this price reduction reflects that discrepancy.

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Totally interesting article on the “slowing” luxury market in Japan:  Losing its Shine, from the Economist.  Notable quotes?

“Having been stagnant for half a decade, sales have fallen dramatically this year for many brands. Hermès, Gucci, Tiffany, Chanel and Cartier have all felt the pinch.  LVMH’s sales in Japan slid by 6% in the first six months. This year may be the first since the company’s arrival in Japan in 1978 in which its sales in the country go down.”

“The Japanese market for imported luxury products—clothes, shoes, handbags and accessories—was worth ¥1.2 trillion ($10.2 billion) in 2007, a drop of 39% since 1996. As sales have fallen, the big labels’ market shares have increased: Louis Vuitton’s sales have almost tripled over the period, to ¥165 billion.”

“Japan overflows with “parasite singles”—adults living with their parents—who are flush with money that would otherwise go on rent. As fewer women marry and have children, they have more cash to spend. All of this fuelled Japan’s strong demand for luxury goods. But as the population ages, there are fewer young, wealthy and fashion-mad customers.”

“To support their sales, Louis Vuitton and Gucci have launched less expensive collections made with cheaper materials. Big brands are also opening stores in smaller cities, where the lure of the logo still works. The big question is whether Japan is an isolated example, or signals a broader shift in demand. Perhaps it is a bit of both.”

This is just a really interesting read considering how influential Japan is

Read the whole article.

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… and subscribed to the amazing Japanese publication, Numero TOKYO!

Subscribers to its October issue will receive a fab Takashi Murakami x Louis Vuitton Monogramouflage Mouse Pad!   They’re getting other exclusive gifts monthly till December.

AMAZING!  I haven’t gotten anything better than a t-shirt or tote bag for a subscription for years!

Read more here- atanaka

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At least until they come out or I see someone interesting carrying on…  I was asked to post some unwatermarked pictures for Polyvore.  I’ve never used it before- but apparently I’ve got some blog readers who love it… (BTW- I’d love it if you’d send me a link when you’re done!)

OK.  So here they are.  Rei promised us two re-issues.

1.  We’ve got the LV X CDG Danube/ Petit Marceau- almost identical but slightly larger than the old PM.

2.  And the new LV X CDG Amazone… again, so similar to the vintage Amazone- the newer  Sac 2 Poches pictured in my last post.

I mean, check out the hardware!  The leather pull tabs look identical to vintage tags and the actual pull almost looks like an old Eclair pull…

She also said she’d do- Two Icons.

1.  The Spidified Mini Speedy HL.  Those handles are really thin.  The part that holds them to the hardware is only a couple stitches.  It looks to me, like you’d jut hold this by the top set of handles– if you were to actually use it (and not just keep it as a collectable).

2.  The Charmed Papillon 30.

I’d have to fight my daughters for the “charms”… (a bunny on the left, a teddy bear on the right- and a… Teletubby in the midde)

And finally- she said she’d create two original “party bags”… (original is debatable, since they look mighty familiar to me- but it makes sense that for a collaboration in in honor of the 30th anniversary of Louis Vuitton in Japan- Rei Kawakubo would reached heavily into the past 30 years at Louis Vuitton for her inspiration for all six of her designs).

1.  I like to call this one the Hybrid Looping/ Musette… cause it’s got a looping inspired strap and a narrow flapless musette body.

2.  And the hybrid Looping/ bigger Secret… cause it’s just a little bitty simple bag like the old Pochette Secret

Sure- they’ve all got a unique, CDG twist, but I actually really like the Re-issues and the Papillon.  Too bad they’ll only be available in the CDG X Louis Vuitton temporary boutique!

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I mean, let’s face it… she’s from the Karl Lagerfeld camp- and has been around, like forever!  So, it makes sense to me that Rei Kawakubo‘d have some nostalgia for some tried and true 1980’s vintage Louis Vuitton staples.  I’m seeing that a lot in her Comme De Garcon’s x Louis Vuitton collaboration pieces.

The Amazone- or revamp of the Sac 2 Poches pictured below, the Danube- the newer Petit Marceau, the Pochette Secret (and Mini Poche along with other bitty bags) along with the Pap 30 and Mini Speedy HL.  That’s what it looks like to me anyway… what do you think?

Here is the fruit of the collaboration:

And here’s a page out of a 1983 catalog:

What do you think?

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Does the Louis Vuitton Damier Sophie ring a bell?

Well, it could have something to do with the fact that the folks in Japan are buying more Louis Vuitton than any other country. (Interested? Read an article in Times Magazine about the LV v. Coach battle for marketshare there.) But, I digress…

(Louis Vuitton Japan)

You are feasting your eyes upon an actual living (well, it was living before it was cut, I suppose) white rose, that Louis Vuitton has branded with it’s virtually immortal signature monogram. These roses are currently on sale in celebration of the Japanese “White Day”, on March 14.

(I’m not usually a cut flowers kind of girl. This bouquet however, I’m totally into! How gorgeous is that?)

So what exactly is “White Day” you might ask? (The same question I was asking myself just a short while ago…) Apparently, in Japan- on February 14 (Valentine’s Day), Japanese women give gifts of chocolate to the men that they love. In return, on “White Day” (you can read more about how this name came about on Wiki if you’re interested) men are supposed to return the favor by giving more expensive gifts in response. (I’m loving this tradition. These women are BRILLIANT!!!)

The roses are currently for sale in Japan for 4000 yen a piece or $39 USD. (It looks to me like that Neverfull GM Bouquet above has about 23 roses in it- a cool $897 in roses for all you numbers people!)

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Interesting… the first “just for men” Louis Vuitton boutique opened in Osaka this week.  I don’t have many details yet… But I did find some pretty cool pics on Honeyee’s blog. Unfortunately, I can’t read it
But I can look at all the pretty pictures!  I love the picture above of the Graphite Damier Piano that was on display at the F/W 2008 Men’s Show.  I could definitely see more of that!

I love it!

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No, it’s not a newly released Louis Vuitton Multicolore piece… it’s the Matsuya Department Store in the fabulous Ginza shopping district!

I love it! Matsuya has been given an Extreme Makeover! It now bears the vibrant hued fleurs, quatrefoils and famous LV logo of a Takashi Murakami for Louis Vuitton Multicolore Hard Case. Note the “brass” corners, and “S-lock” closure! It’s all lit up, and apparently- it changes colors every half hour!

(image credit: 8tokyo.com)

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