Wow.  Not only is The Pand Hotel in just about the cutest town you’ll find in this part of Europe (Bruges, Belgium- think cobblestone streets, cool little stone bridges & canals- cute shops and cafes… adorable!) but the owners of this little luxury hotel have quite the antique Louis Vuitton trunk and hard case collection- and they are scattered throughout the hotel.

… in bedrooms, like the one pictured above and below.

… and with stacks of suitcases in the lobby:

I love what vintage Louis Vuitton can do for a room- and it so works in this hotel.  I am writing this into my Rick Steve’s Amsterdam, Bruges and Brussels guide- as a reminder. Don’t want to miss it if I get the chance!

Check out The Pand Hotel website- pictures and video.  It’s an amazing little hotel!

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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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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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As you well know- I love the history and meaning behind so much of what comes out of Louis Vuitton. This is what I find timeless about the brand in general.

I’d been wanting to write about the history about the striped Tanger- and in my search for images actually found another great blog entry on the same subject in the Excess Baggage blog by Deluxe Duck… be sure to check it out!

(The personal bag of Gaston-Louis Vuitton, 1901 from Pasol’s, Louis Vuitton)

(An early prototype of the Keepall- 1930, again with Gaston’s initial, from Pasol’s, Louis Vuitton)

The Louis Vutton striped Tanger Sac Plat borrows it’s central, geometric “V” initial from Gaston’s early monogram. It has the red center on the V on a white background. Mini Lin Tanger Sac Plat bags (Ebene and Camel) will borrow the blue center, with light blue- not white.

(from eBay seller anythingluxury’s vintage Louis Vuitton approx 1885 trunk)

The unique striped fabric that makes up the exterior of this particular Sac Plat is reminiscent of early trunk lining. (You’ll find similar striped linings in the Sac Trianon line- and including the Trianon Neverfull.

The striped Tanger Sac Plat is no longer available in stores. It was a S/S 2005 men’s bag- so they’re hard to get your hands on. Lucky for you, we happen to have one of these amazing limited edition pieces on eBay right now!

Check out our pre-owned authentic Louis Vuitton striped Tanger Sac Plat. Remember- if you win it and mention that you saw it on my blog- you get free shipping!

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OK, so we’re all used to seeing the “Cribs” shot inside celebrity closets- where you regularly take a peek at strategically, and asthetically pleasingly displayed Louis Vuitton pieces (see the Eva Longoria example above- feet delicately balancing on what appears to be an epi hatbox & multicolore hard case up above on a shelf!)

But today vintage and new Louis Vuitton pieces are often found tastefully decorating all kinds of rooms…

(Photo by Dewey Nicks)

You may remember this fantastic picture of “the Louis Vuitton Don”, Kanye West’s office from Harper’s Bazaar.

(Tommy Hilfiger’s Trunk)

(from WWJD: Aaron R. Thomas blog)

I’ve blogged before about the trunk in Tommy Hilfiger’s living room…

but I really like what Aaron Thomas did with acrylic for LVMH as covers for trunks that were used for their pre-Golden Globes Party (one that happened, last year- pre-strike!) The pic above is from Aaron’s blog- and these not only make the trunk look fab and modern- but you can set your drink on your $20,000 trunk without worry!

(from In LVoe with Louis Vuitton blog)

Finally, I found this great picture from F~A~L~B’s blog… He’s framed a Louis Vuitton scarf and has it hanging in his guest powder room! I think this is a great idea- many Louis Vuitton scarves are little works of art. It’s nice to see them displayed. This could work in other rooms of the house as well, and I’d love to see it done with some vintage pieces!

I’ll leave it to you to comment on the following custom bathroom addition!

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Have you ever wondered how they fit this pretty good sized bed into such a relatively small Louis Vuitton trunk? Well, you’ve come to the right place!Love the vintage Louis Vuitton striped mattress & matching lining paper!

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What’s not to love about this look? This is the library in US fashion designer, Tommy Hilfiger’s house in Greenwich, Connecticutt. Tommy’s a collector and his home is decorated with vintage Louis Vuitton trunks- in the library, living room and bedrooms. It’s such a classic look. I love that he has an antique, famously French trunk right there with his red, white and blue Uncle Sam American art!

Hey Tommy? We’d love to help you add to your collection! Feel free to check out our www.fashionphile.com website for fabulous authentic vintage Louis Vuitton trunks and travel accessories. Of course, if you’re in the LA area, we’d love to have you drop on by!

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(pic from Pharrell’s blog- Billionaire Boy’s Club Blog)

Well, I can’t be sure- but hear me out:

OK… this is totally funny to me! I blogged about visiting Francis Elisio in Paris this Christmas. Francis owns Des-Voyages- a fabulous antique business specializing in vintage Louis Vuitton trunks & Hermes travel bags that is located in the amazing “Les Puces” antique flea market in Paris.

Well I thought THIS was very cool! I found this entry in Pharrell Williams’ blog (I’ve been checking it almost daily now, in hopes of getting a glimpse of pics of the new Jewelry collaboration that he’s been working on with Louis Vuitton- it’s getting released the 21st, but I figured, he might post some early pics of the bling!)

Anyway- it was fun to see pics of Pharrell Williams at the very market that we visited at Christmas- and to read his comments.

I just thought it was ironic, that we sell our antique Louis Vuitton trunks in Beverly Hills- but they are bought by collectors worldwide. We’ve sold many to Francis from Des-Voyages, and so there’s a chance, that Pharrell was shopping in France for trunks that came from us in BH. Just interesting.

Hey, Skateboard P! Let us know if we can help you with your antique LV collection? The dollar is weaker here- so we can give you a better deal AND you wouldn’t have to pay to ship it back from France!

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OK… I am a little biased here. I totally have a thing for vintage. I’m not talking old- trashed… I’m talking cool vintage pieces- discontinued, so as limited as you can get. If you can find a unique and interesting vintage bag in great condition- it’s a serious jackpot!

I mean, Sarah Michelle Gellar is pretty safe in assuming, that while there may be other monogram Louis Vuitton bags at the airport with her (note the woman with the Speedy 30 in the pic below)- there won’t be anyone else carrying a fab vintage, discontinued Louis Vuitton Sac Shopping bag! I love it! (I’m not discriminating here- I’m loving her coat, her boots, her hat & her sunglasses too… pretty much the whole kit & kaboodle!)

While the masses can’t get their hands on Sarah’s bag- you know we can! In fact, we have a pristine, authentic Louis Vuitton Sac Shopping right now on eBay. It even comes with the original pochette accessories…

Check it out!

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**

Love this article from today’s Wall Street Journal about the huge bags everyone is wearing!

It made me think of the fab Red Hermes Birkin that Katie Holmes carried while Christmas shopping this year.

I love this quote from the article referring to a New York chiropractor/ American Chiropractic Association spokesperson:

Karen Erickson… estimates that the number of purse-related injuries and sprains she treats has risen 30% in the past year.

No wonder… ARGH, my aching back!!!

** By the way, Katie’s Birkin is actually a travel bag- but maybe she’s using it as a shopping tote- (ya know, the environmentally friendly alternative to those pesky plastic shopping bags!)

If you’re looking for one cheaper than retail… do I have the tip for you! We had the chance to meet a client of ours- Francis Elisio, who owns Des-Voyages in the fabulous antique district/ flea market in Paris this Christmas. This is NOT your grandmother’s flea market. There was literally stall after stall of authentic vintage Louis Vuitton and Hermes, Chanel etc! Walls lined in trunks and travel bags. It was amazing.

Check out his stuff here: Des Voyages.  If you are in the neighborhood- drop on by!  Tell him your friends at FASHIONPHILE sent you, and see if he as any of our trunks on stock!!!

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