Louis Vuitton Handbags and Purses (Page 21)

Visionaire is a multi-format album of fashion and art produced in highly exclusive limited numbers and editions. One of the newest editions, 52, which will be available in October, features designer Marc Jacobs posing nude. Not new to the nude front, Jacobs embraces this issue and even left his photos untouched. The price will be $375. While the price is steep, keep in mind this will be a limited edition and finished off with a Louis Vuitton gold monogrammed case.

Will you be interested to take a peek?

Marc Jacobs is clearly proud of his bod — and bares it all again in the latest edition of Visionaire. The 168-page oversize book, sponsored by Louis Vuitton, includes nude photographs of a bevy of models, actors and celebrities, including Jacobs, this edition’s guest editor. Visionaire co-founder Stephen Gan said the concept was conceived more than two years ago and most of the photos were taken late last year. “The idea was to do personal nudes of famous people. We came up with a list of who are considered the most beautiful people in the world,” he explained. That list includes Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, Mariah Carey, Drew Barrymore, Naomi Campbell, Scarlett Johansson, Christy Turlington, Gisele Bündchen, Jamie Dornan and Selma Blair, all shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. Though most of the images are quite revealing, “not everyone is stark naked,” Gan said (Lopez and Anthony appear clothed, most of the models, including Daria Werbowy and Natalia Vodianova, do not). Thus, the latest edition is entitled “Private.”

Photographs of Jacobs appear in the last pages of the book, where he appears lying across an oversize teddy bear in one image and draped in black rope in several others. (“His photographs were not retouched,” a Visionaire staffer added.) Jacobs is no stranger to baring it all: He appeared naked on the September cover of Out magazine, and on the cover of WWD in September 2006, along with his business partner, Robert Duffy, to raise awareness of skin cancer. And Jacobs hasn’t posed naked only when he’s fit — the designer also bared all for Vanity Fair in the Nineties.

Voyeurs and others can buy the issue for $375 beginning in early October; 2,500 copies will be printed. But before sulking at the hefty price tag, consider “Private” will be sold in a limited edition Louis Vuitton gold monogrammed case. At least they thought to dress the book up, even if its subjects inside aren’t. — Stephanie D. Smith

Via WWD

Yesterday was a gorgeous South Florida day and Vlad and I took advantage of it by shopping at our favorite mall, Bal Harbour Shops. We of course had to go to Louis Vuitton Bal Harbour where the SA’s are always amazing and the clientèle is top notch (yesterday a five time Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer was there). Front and center upon walking in the store was the new anthracite Louis Vuitton Monogram Olympe Nimbus GM which sports supple lambskin with etched acetate hardware. The color is divine, almost a milky gray, which is enticing and much less likely to show dirt or wear. Dimensions are 19.7″x 13.8″x 4.3″, which makes this handbag extremely large. But throw it over your shoulder and you have a stunning piece of work.

$2550 via eLuxury’s official Louis Vuitton boutique. As always call Louis Vuitton Bal Harbour for any LV need.

One of the deciding factors when I purchase a new handbag is whether or not the bag is functional. If I can’t fit all my ‘stuff’ (which sometimes can include the kitchen sink) in it, then what is the point of paying upwards of $1000 for the bag? I am also not a huge fan of letting the weather dictate which bag I can carry that day. I just want to grab a bag, sling it on my shoulder, and run out the door! Thus, the Louis Vuitton Damier line has always appealed to me. These bags can take a beating and never show it! I have seen bags that are 10 years old and look like brand new. The problem with this line is that the bag has never been just right. The bags have always been a little too fancy and grown-up for my taste (e.g. Duomo) or a bit too casual (e.g. Saleya).

Louis Vuitton has finally got it right with the new Louis Vuitton Damier Trevi. This bag, just released earlier this month, is certainly functional. It can be a shoulder bag, or the strap can be removed and carried by hand. The zippered top provides security from prying hands. The pleat adds volume and a funky edge to keep it youthful, but not too casual. In additional to all these wonderful attributes the bag also comes in two sizes. The GM (16 x 12 x is big enough to carry around the kitchen sink, while the PM (13 x 9 x6) is just big enough to fit all the essentials without being overloaded. And of course the price…at only $1725 for the GM and $1425 for the PM it is not too overwhelming! At least my bank account didn’t shudder in disbelief for once!

Contact 1-866-VUITTON for more details or shop at eLuxury’s official Louis Vuitton boutique.

The Louis Vuitton Suhali line costs a pretty penny but appeals to the crowd that loves Louis Vuitton and is not keen on logos. While goat leather is heavy, the simple style of the Louis Vuitton Suhali Lockit PM catches the eye. Smooth leather trim with contrast topstitching are perfect alongside golden brass hardware. For those who do not want to carry a heavier handbag, this may not be for you. Because the only option for carrying the bag is with the rolled leather handles, your arm may get tired easily. But it doesn’t mean that this bag is not gorgeous to admire. I would hope for a more luxurious lining, when the price is so high, but this handbag is merely lined with monogrammed textile lining. While I am not willing to shell out my credit card for this handbag, I do love it. Dimensions are 11.8″x 9.8″x 5.2″.

Buy through eLuxury’s exclusive Louis Vuitton boutique for $2320.

All luxury handbag designers are busy trying to lure in new customers, and keep their established customers spending more and more. Louis Vuitton does an exceptional job every season keeping its customers satisfied. Every season we are bombarded with a copious amount of new handbags and accessories to buy, and more often than not the name of the handbag is followed by the words limited edition. These two words spell trouble for bank accounts around the globe as women scramble to be first on the waitlist. Limited edition is often equated with exclusivity and we will gladly pay over $2000 for a canvas bag because only 5000 were produced!

Recently, I have pondered what limited edition really means. Louis Vuitton has recently re-released several limited edition items and has subsequently caused me to really think about my purchases. For example, the Millionaires sunglasses were recently re-released this past summer. Great news for those who missed out the first time, but for those who were lucky to obtain the first time around how do you now feel? Personally, I would feel slighted and angry that the company was dishonest with me! As another example, the Monogram Olympe Nimbus was released for the Spring/Summer 2007 season in two colors. Originally offered as a limited edition item, it has now been re-released for Fall/Winter 2007 in two new colors and a new size!! The Monogram Miroir was re-released in the Lockit style. And the heart coin purse, which sold out in weeks, is also being re-released this upcoming winter!!!

All of this does make me really think about the purchases I will make. Do I buy a bag solely because it is limited edition, or because I love the bag? Do I buy the bag to use it, or to collect it and possibly resell it in the future? If bags and accessories are being re-released it causes the resale value to decline, and of course the exclusivity associated with the brand also starts to decline?

How would you feel if this happened to you?

Call 1-866-VUITTON for information about upcoming limited edition releases.

Monogram Olympe Nimbus Fall/Winter 2007 Re-Release in Perle & Anthracite
PM: $1950
GM: $2550

Feast your eyes fashionable girls and boys, for this is the last Scarlett ad you will see from me! Yes, my fall preview series has come to a sad conclusion and I have oh-so-thoughtfully saved the best, or maybe the worst, for last. This wonderful bag, which slightly resembles some furry beast or at the very least an Ugg boot, is the new Louis Vuitton Monogram Shearling. Right from the get-go this bag just holds no appeal to me with the shiny, slightly plastic looking, monogram material and the fur sticking out everywhere. Great bag for the abominable snowman to look fashionable in, but maybe not so much for the fashionable New York gal! To add insult to injury, the bags carry quite the hefty price tag for some plastic coated shearling wool with vernis handles! My verdict: a big thumbs down!

Waitlists are now open (possibly even empty), call 1-866-VUITTON for more details. Click below for more detailed shots:

Believe it or not, one of the ultra-exclusive Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork Bags is making its way into the nation’s capital. A super elite LV customer has ordered the $52,500 which is set to appear later this season. Ylan Q. Mui of the Washington Post interviewed me for her article, Exclusive Status: It’s in The Bag. Read the article below, and thanks again to Ylan!

Forget your Coach purse. Put away your Kate Spade. Even Hermes’s famous Birkin bag seems positively discount.

The Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork is this summer’s ultimate status bag, ringing in at $52,500. And it is arriving in Washington by the end of the season, ordered by a woman whose circumstances and identity the company has ever so politely (again and again) declined to disclose.

…

Some fashion followers, however, feel that history should not be sliced, diced and rearranged into one purse.

“Limited-edition handbags give us purse fanatics something to drool over, to lust after, to want,” said Meaghan Mahoney of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who writes the Purse Blog. “But there comes a time when no matter how limited something is, no matter how much fuss goes behind it . . . the product just plain old sucks.”

Still, Mahoney said she would relish the opportunity to see the Tribute Patchwork with her own eyes.

“At least that way, those who are lucky enough to see the handbag in person will gain instant bragging rights,” she said. “After all, the bag is not much more than bragging material by itself.”

Read the entire article at Washington Post.