It’s an interesting time to be in the ultra-luxury business because no one really knows where the top of the market is. In a climate when a pre-owned Birkin can break records by selling at auction for well into the six figures, there’s a seemingly insatiable thirst for novelty and rarity among the world’s super rich.
There are relatively few brands in a position to sate that thirst, but those who can have been publicly offering ever more exotics over the past few seasons. The most notable exotic push in recent memory, though, is the one Louis Vuitton is making right now, and many of the bags have recently become available for perusal, including price information, on the brand’s website. That is a shift in course in and of itself; for years, the brand kept its most expensive bags off general consumer radar.
Doing more top-tier leather goods has been a stated goal of LV’s for some time now, and the bags below seem to represent the logical extreme of that strategy. They range in prices from a little over $7,000 to $50,000, with several priced above $40,000. If you had that much to spend on a bag, would these make your list?
Louis Vuitton Alma BB Crocodile Bag
$22,200 via Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Alma BB Ostrich Bag
$7,350 via Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Alma BB Python Bag
$7,350 via Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Capucines MM Matte Crocodile Bag
$48,500 via Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Capucines BB Matte Crocodile Bag
$30,500 via Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Capucines MM Matte Crocodile Bag
$44,500 via Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Chain Louise Crocodile Bag
$15,800 via Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Doc PM Crocodile Bag
$44,500 via Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Dora PM Crocodile Bag
$50,000 via Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Lockit PM Crocodile Bag
$44,500 via Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Minaudiere Coffre Lizard and Crocodile Bag
$9,100 via Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Montaigne MM Crocodile Bag
$38,000 via Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Petite Malle Crocodile Clutch
$34,000 via Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Rossmore PM Crocodile Bag
$10,500 via Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton SC BB Crocodile Bag
$29,500 via Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Twist MM Crocodile Bag
$32,500 via Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Twist MM Python Bag
$7,350 via Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Vivienne LV Crocodile Bag
$24,500 via Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Volta Matte Crocodile Bag
$41,000 via Louis Vuitton
The Alma BB Python is by far the sexiest bag I have personally ever seen!
I detest any exotic besides croc/gator (lizard is too delicate, Python is the definition of tacky, ostrich is disgusting looking). Love the Volta and the Vivienne, the Sofia Coppola, the Dora, and the Doc. LV is talking a step in the right direction.
I really like python and I do agree there is an element that can be defined as “trashy” or “tacky”. However I see it as edgy and fun, especially when in colors. Works well with jeans and a tee shirt. By coincidence today I bought a pair of red python shoes (moccasins) but I wouldn’t wear them to a business meeting!!!
Python just isn’t my thing. I’m not a huge fan of exotics in general.
Python is tacky? so is your taste
I don’t think so, but you’re entitled to your opinion. But, yes, to me, Python is tacky. It makes me think of something a Pussycat Doll would carry. On the Alma, it looks nice, but I just don’t particularly like it. If that makes me tacky, then so be it.
Unethical, won’t buy bags made from animals killed exclusively for their skins, etc. wish the industry would develop standards re: the treatment of these animals so people like me could buy without guilt.
you wish you can afford them.
you want to come check out my collection?
completely agree, im fine with leather as its a by product of the meat industry but id never buy an exotic because a lot of crocodile species are endangered and you don’t know where the skin came from.
Exactly. You don’t know where the skin came from so maybe just shut the hell up cos it seems like you don’t know anything. If you’re not against eating meat, then you’re probably not against using leather products and therefore how is that different to slaughtering another animal to make a bag? Get over it people .
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3137714/Necks-cut-open-spines-severed-alive-just-40-000-Birkin-handbags-watchstraps-appalling-suffering-crocodiles-designer-leather-farms-exposed-undercover-video.html
Especially because that croc lockit is soooo pretty!!! Wish it were embossed!!
I am curious is the quality of these exotics as good as some of the other houses (thinking primarily of Hermes here). And can a brand do both such expensive high end exotics and at the same time offer monogram canvas at the mass production level?
I would venture to say that the bags are produced in completely different factories for lack of a better word. The exotics are more than likely being constructed by hand with artisans that specialize in constructing bags made from these hides. Probably not that many even being produced.
As much as LV may hate it, the monogram canvas is their bread and butter. The women purchasing those bags are not going for the $40,000 exotic.
Love the matte croc!
Wow Louis Vuitton is really stepping their game up. Kudos to them.
usually I love crocodile skin but on louis v it looks cheap and tacky:/ disappointed
I am not an exotic fan. I like the Malle. Everything else is just tired looking. It would be nice if LV had some fresh designs. I mean the same bag in different materials gets old. I am not a fan of the LV Chanel flap bag either. I want LV to be a trend setter not follower.
I think they look great! Ignore the haters! These are beautiful bags.
I am one for exotics, like the ones that Chanel and Hermes does looks really good, even Celine and Saint Laurent’s croc embossed skin looks great (and also at a cheaper price), but for some reason the croc that LV uses looks like plastic, looks fake… Especially the Doc BB and for that amount of money – its not worth the while…
Some of these are really lovely (mostly the capucines) and some are just so, so bad with WAY too much going on in a tiny bag.
I like exotics and can afford them, but would never purchase them. I watched a documentary showing how crocodiles necks are cut and their spine is brutally removed, at times before they are dead. Many are raised on farms and killed at 3 years simply to use their underbelly for bags. I cannot condone this practice for these purposes.
this breaks my heart in to a million pieces
I used to be a real big fan of exotics but after seeing a new PETA undercover expose video on the treatment of crocodile and alligator farming i feel really sick about it 🙁
Honestly i urge everyone to watch the video – the one they recorded was the Hermes farms…
Look im all about farming animals and leather is a natural product weve used for thousands of years and i prefer leather over plastic but there needs to be more care and thought for these animals – even if they end up inanimate objects they dont start out that way.
It really opened my eyes…sorry for the rant but i feel it should be more widely covered and i feel this blog is the perfect place to have a discussion about it.