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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Did you know that we are just 1.2 miles from the Rodeo Louis Vuitton Boutique?  It’s a straight shot- straight down Rodeo and then we’re right across from the Beverly Hills Hotel.

So, next time you’re down on Rodeo, doing some shopping… why not come on by?  We’re happy to let you take a look at anything we’ve got up- and even to preview stuff that hasn’t made it online yet.  You know we’re always happy to take your consignments, and maybe we can even work out a trade or two!

Just send us an email to let us know when you’ll be in the area, and we’ll make sure that there will be someone there to to meet you!

BTW:  I hadn’t seen Google Street view before- here’s FASHIONPHILE via Google:

And here’s the Rodeo Boutique:

See you soon!

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(Picture credit: Gossip Girls)

Heidi Montage & Spencer Pratt did a little shopping at Louis Vuitton yesterday in NYC.

I can’t wait for the “candid” photo op where they show off their purchase…

Hey, Heidi & Spence- if things get slow for you, remember you can get guaranteed authentic, pre-owned Louis Vuitton items with us here at FASHIONPHILE for less than retail!

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(credit: Pursepage)

Please excuse the blast from the past Duran, Duran reference… but I’m loving this fabulous Black leather “Rio” clutch from Jimmy Choo.  Victoria looks so hot- from head to foot.  I mean, we all love Jimmy Choo shoes- but he really nailed it in the handbag department with this one.  I love a good shoulder bag, but you can also wear it like Posh does- as a clutch.

Either way, we can help you “Wear what she’s wearing”…

We’ve got this bag- an amazing pre-owned authentic black Jimmy Choo Rio on our website right now.    Check it out!

And here’s a little trip back for any of you children of the 80’s: 

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From the Brooklyn Museum of Art press release:

“A selection of Monogram Multicolor bags and small leather goods will be available for sale for the duration of the © MURAKAMI exhibition. Styles for sale include the Alma, Speedy, Ursula, Beverly, Rita, Eugénie, and Alexandra. Just as the MOCA store presented a number of limited-edition Monogram canvasses revisited by Takashi Murakami, the Brooklyn store will also offer a new version of these “Editioned Canvasses,” signed by the artist and sold as exclusive art products. The new version, called Monogramouflage, is an exciting new pattern created by Takashi Murakami for Louis Vuitton, and gives viewers a glimpse of a bright new product line that will be launched at the Brooklyn Museum Louis Vuitton store on June 1 before being sold in selected Louis Vuitton stores worldwide. As the store may generate revenues, part of them will be donated to the Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation.”

Oh, so interesting.  So will the Louis Vuitton multicolore be just standard issue, or limited edition Murakami Brooklyn Museum specials?  We’ll have to see.

There’s a whole bunch of Murakami stuff on the Brooklyn Museum website- available now, but no Louis Vuitton.

Monogramouflage will actually be officially unveiled at Louis Vuitton’s “Brooklyn Ball” launch party on April 3!

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 Well, it might not be at a boutique, and who knows about whether or not you’d get company discounts… but LVMH is still accepting applications for the @Murakami exhibit in-store Brooklyn Museum of Art Louis Vuitton boutique.

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Well, I guess they don’t call him the “Louis Vuitton Don” for nothing. He rocks the heck out of that Louis Vuitton Monogram Montsouris GM backpack…

In fact… it looks like that picture may have inspired Alex Melamid’s depiction of Kanye in his “Holy Hip Hop” exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit.

What makes it even more interesting is that it looks like Melamid has changed it up a bit- and Kanye appears to be sporting a special edition Louis Vuitton Nomade Christopher (I don’t know if Kanye actually has one, so this may just be Melamid’s artistic license at work!)

Anyway, you don’t have to be the Louis Vuitton Don to carry an authentic monogram Louis Vuitton Montsouris GM backpack. We’ve got a pre-owned Montsouris on eBay right now and even the “Buy it Now” price is less than 50% of Louis Vuitton’s retail! The reserve is more like 1/3. Be sure to take a look!

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I’m slowly but surely updating all of my buying guides.

My free Louis Vuitton buying guides were all on eBay originally. I wrote them when the “Reviews & Guides” first came about. But there was a limit to 10 tiny pictures and only like 2500 words a guide- which was a huge limitation in what I’m writing on… So I have been one by one updating all of my guides here on my website.

(An example photo from the Louis Vuitton Date Code guide)

I just re-did my Louis Vuitton Date Code Explanation Guide. It’s much more helpful, with big, clear pictures, updated information, and including recent changes. I hope you find it helpful. Go ahead- bookmark it and use it as a reference.

I updated my Louis Vuitton Epi Information Guide, and my Louis Vuitton Vernis Information Guide in Fall of 2007- and am adding more info now. The rest of my guides are getting a total overhaul, and I’ll announce them one by one as they are “done”. (They’ll all continually need updating- but the initial overhaul takes the most work!)

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(Picture credit- Deluxe Duck’s Excess Baggage Blog)

I referenced the Excess Baggage blog in my last post- but you gotta check out his blog entry on the Richard Prince Bread Clip necklace! He’s got great pictures… and good info.

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So, word is that Marc Jacobs and Jason Preston broke up (again).

I mean, I can’t blame him- but you know Jason’s gonna miss the perks.

(Jason Preston & Louis Vuitton Keepall)

You know, the private jet rides…

(Jason Preston and Louis Vuitton Luggage & Manhattan GM)

The amazing Louis Vuitton freebies.

(Jason Preston and Louis Vuitton Rabbit Scarf)

Breaking up is hard to do…

(Jason Preston in Louis Vuitton shorts)

(Insert your own snarky comment here, that picture speaks for itself IMO!)

What I’m going to miss are the fun LV pictures on Jason’s My Space page!

(All the pictures above were from Jason’s page)

(If you’re a voyeur- Marc Jacobs always has some cool pictures on his My Space profile too… who ever said that Marc wasn’t web savvy?)

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