So, I didn’t want to post the pictures from the Vanity Fair party that Louis Vuitton hosted at the Rodeo Boutique, because other bloggers have done that.  But I did want to share this picture.

There’s some comfy couches on the Rodeo Louis Vuitton rooftop, with some plain cushions… and also these cool almost monogram cushions (notice, no LV).

I got the picture from Anna Umemiya’s Blog.  It’s in Japanese, I believe, but she’s got some nice pictures.  And what a beauty she is!

But anyway, I wanted to post it because I’ve get emails asking me whether Louis Vuitton has ever made (fill in the blank, lighters, visors, stepping stools, etc).  So, I’ve been asked through the years whether Louis Vuitton ever did bed sets or throw pillows, and I always answer no.  Exhibit A:

I still haven’t seen a bedset, but I guess I’ll have to amend my answer about the throw pillows.  No, except…

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I’ve been spotlighting especially good “Ask Seller a Question” emails that we’ve been asked by our buyers.  This is a good one.  It’s one that we get quite a bit, and one that we read mis-information on in some of the guides that are floating around out there on the WWW.

Dear fashionphile,

I thought LV never stitched over the initials. I am not trying to second guess you I am just curious. Is it because it is vintage?

This is the back side of that wallet.  (You can see where the LV monogram referenced in the email has been stitched through…)

It’s true that the designers and creative forces dreaming up each Louis Vuitton piece are not only thoughtful in the the physical shape and practicality of each piece… but they are very particular about the way that the Louis Vuitton monogram aligns and is showcased in relation to that shape.

Take a look at the front of any Louis Vuitton monogram piece.  The placement of the monogram (the LV’s, pointed fleurs and quatrefoils) is very deliberate.  The monogram is symetrical from left to right and often from top to bottom.

Not only that… but the pattern is obviously strategically laid out in such a way that seams, or cuts aren’t made to go “through” the LVs in the monogram.

However, there are exceptions to this general rule.

1)  In small leather goods.  Like wallets, or pochettes- anything that is a small shape, and that uses one continual piece of monogram.  Sometimes, the size of the object doesn’t allow for symetry on both sides.  And in fact, the size often requires a seam to “go through the LV’s” in the monogram.  This will not be the case on the FRONT VIEW of the item.  So look at the front of the wallet, the front of the pochette- and you’ll see no cut LVs.  The story is different on the back.

2)  In physical designs that aren’t condusive.  For whatever reason, the physical shape of an object will require that the LV’s be slightly cut through.  This is true, for example on many of the Elllipse styles and sizes.  Like this Louis Vuitton Ellipse MM:

3. In some vintage pieces.  For whatever reason, historically, this rule hasn’t been as important with Louis Vuitton.  You’ll find pieces all the way up through the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s with seams through the LV’s and can find hard cases and trunks that go back farther than that with the same effect.  Take a look at this piece of early 80’s French Company for Louis Vuitton luggage- the corners of the front flap, in particular:

Anyway- what I’m saying here is that there is not a “hard and fast” rule about seams or cuts going through the monogram placement.  There’s a general rule of symetry- but you have to keep in mind the intent of the design (symetry in the front view, may require a cut on the back, for example.)

You asked!

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(Photo credit & more pics @ Just Jared)

Perfect, Ash.  We always get emails asking about the relative size of different bags.

So here we have the Louis Vuitton Galliera, displayed by Ashley Tisdale.  She is about 5′ 3″ tall, with a relatively small frame.

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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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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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(photo credi: ArtsMode)
So interesting… Salvador Dali was fascinated with the Louis Vuitton monogram in the late 1960s. So much so, that he appropriated LV’s monogram toile into what he called a series of Toile “Daligrams”.

The picture above is an actual, 1970 Salvador Dali, Toile Daligram. Notice that Dali used an actual Louis Vuitton agenda upon which to create his design.

He includes personal symbols as well as his SD initials and the initial of his wife Gala.

(From Dali-Design)

Salvador’s Daligram has been available commercially off and on since he created it.

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Well, I’ve never been much of a country music person (unless my childhood John Denver phase counts-)… so I have never really heard much of Dwight Yoakam.  But I gotta say, I’m totally feeling the “Blame the Vain” CD.  Or at least, I should say- the CD cover!

He’s got a whole schlew of vintage Louis Vuitton French Company vintage luggage, including suitcases, a cosmetic case, and a couple other cool pieces that I’d love to get a better look at.  But, my absolute favorite is- the vintage monogram Louis Vuitton Hat Box.

I do think it’s kind of cool that it’s French Company for LV luggage- because the French Company stuff was made in the USA for Louis Vuitton.  (Read my guide for more information on Louis Vuitton X French Company- I’m updating right now, so stay tuned!!!)  I just think that makes so much more sense that a country and western singer would have vintage American made Louis Vuitton on his CD case than luggage made in France- (although the folks putting this thing together probably didn’t even know).

Anyway, if you’ve had your eye out for a fabulous vintage Louis Vuitton Hatbox just like the one on Dwight’s cover- it’s your lucky day, my friend!!!

We’ve got a beautiful pre-owned authentic vintage Louis Vuitton monogram Hat Box listed on our fashionphile.com website right now.  Take a look.  These are so hard to get your hands on in condition like this.  It’s a real bargain at $1845!

Now all Dwight needs is to get himself a custom Louis Vuitton Guitar Case like the one Keith Richards scored for his Journey’s spot, ahhh…. another sweet piece!

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Sounds easy enough, but after my last post about the Monogram Manhattan PM picture issue, I got an email asking me to check out a Louis Vuitton Multicolore Manhattan PM.  “Is this authentic?”

It’s a simple rule.  If Louis Vuitton never made a particular style bag in a particular “skin”- then it is just not authentic.  For example, the Manhattan PM is a monogram line bag… only.  It has never been made in any other line.  So, if you see a damier, MC, epi, denim etc. Manhattan PM- it’s fake.

(Caveat- this rule doesn’t apply with special order items.  You can special order many styles in skins that are not available to the general public.  These bags are very expensive to have made- and you won’t find them for $79 - or even $379- on the internet.)

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I saw this cool shot of Don C on his blog- wearing an amazing special order red epi Louis Vuitton Christopher backpack… and it just made me think about how much I love this style.

There’s Kanye, Nick C., Usher and Jay Z.

Honestly, I can’t think of a hotter manbag.

(Alex Melamid’s depiction of Kanye West with a Louis Vuitton Nomade or Fawn Epi Christopher in his “Holy Hip Hop” exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit)

Can you?

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OK, my last post inspired me to write this one- so forgive me as I indulge myself…

So, in 1892 after the death of his father- George Vuitton decided to get serious about the counterfeit problem he was having with the copying of Louis Vuitton trunks.  He’d originally introduced Damier (in 1888 and unveiled at the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle) for this very purpose.

There are elements of the Louis Vuitton monogram- and quatrefoils (the almost shamrock looking four leaf fleur) in particular, in Gien tiles and elsewhere throughout the Louis Vuitton family home in Asnieres.

(Vuitton Family Residence in Asnieres)

But the quatrefoil pre-dates the late 1890’s.

When I was floating and roaming around Venice, I was literally freaking out at the prevelence of quatrefoils incorporated in the ancient architecture everywhere.  From the Doge’s Palace-

(Doge Palace, Venice)
to random street decorations and wrought iron fencing…

 … and literally everywhere in between.

I buy a Rick Steves’ guide for every trip that we take and I thought this was an interesting little snippet from his Venice book…

I thought it was funny that he says, “The pattern is found on buildings all over Venice, but no where else in the world (except Las Vegas).”  I mean, not true, obviously (I’ve seen this pattern all throughout Europe- from the Notre Dame to the mosaic floor of the Vatican)- but funny.

It’s fascinating that travel is such an important element of Louis Vuitton’s history.  Louis Vuitton will do almost anything, when it comes to custom design of trunks- as long as the function of the piece involves movement- getting something or someone from here to there.  So, it’s interesting to me that at its core- even the inspiration behind the design elements of the Louis Vuitton monogram is so apparent as you travel.

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