When I reminisce about it-bags of the past, a favorite and frequent pastime of mine, nothing holds a special place in my heart quite like the iconic Louis Vuitton Multicolore Monogram. I think about this print all of the time, and I’ve deemed the Multicolore Monogram Speedy possibly my favorite it-bag in history, a bold statement that I’m willing to make. Although Marc Jacobs was at the helm of Louis Vuitton at the time of the Multicolore monogram release, it was actually Japanese artist Takashi Murakami who designed the bright and colorful monogram print. Multicolored Monogram made its debut on the runway at the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2003 fashion show, and from the moment the line was released it became an instant hit with celebrities and fashion lovers alike. Murakami is the mastermind behind a few Louis Vuitton hits, especially the Cherry Blossom and Monogramouflage lines, but he really knocked it out of the park with Multicolore Monogram. The canvas truly exploded in popularity, remaining one of the most notorious it-bags of all time, reaching its peak popularity in 2003 and 2004.
Lovers of this cheery print had two main color choices, black or white, with pops of colorful monogram on both options. Both colors were beautiful in their own right, but I am especially fond of the white version. There is just something so happy about the bright colors of the Monogram against a white coated canvas. The print was available in a wide variety of Louis Vuitton styles and small leather goods, but my favorite was always the Speedy. The rainbow Monogram is just perfection on the classic silhouette of a Speedy. When I think of Louis Vuitton Multicolore, I can’t help but have flashbacks of Jessica Simpson on her reality TV show, Newlyweds. It seemed that in every scene she had her Multicolore Speedy prominently placed on her arm. I remember admiring it from afar, only dreaming of someday owning one.
Multicolore Monogram was officially discontinued in 2015, and my dreams of ever getting something brand new from the Louis Vuitton store were stolen from me. Despite loving this particular print very much, I do remember being surprised it was still in production in 2015 when PurseBlog broke the news of the prints discontinuation. Multicolore Monogram disappeared from my radar after 2007, so I now wish it had been cut from the Louis Vuitton line up sooner than 2015. Maybe if it had been discontinued earlier, it would resurface in 2019 with all the other it-bags of the past that have been reincarnated recently. One lesson that fashion has taught me is that everything comes back again eventually, so maybe we will see Multicolore Monogram in years to come. Luckily for me, Multicolore Monogram is consistently available on luxury consignment sites, so my dream of owning one is not gone for good.
If you really feel like taking a trip down memory lane, check out this PurseBlog feature on a Multicolore iPod shuffle case from 2006. Nothing like a fashion and technology throwback to really make me feel old.
I was watching a docu about the Marcos family and they showed Imelda closet with all her shoes she had 2 pairs of the multi 1 in black the other white. I see here it says it launched in 2003 but, the video of her closet was 1986 , so I guess my question is, Is Takashi Murakami the original creator of the multicolored print ?
I wish they had never discontinued the multicolore. I think that Murakami is by far the greatest collaborator LV has ever had.
This was the first bag that caught my eye from the LV line. Still think it is stunning!
My ex-husband bought me a white multicolor Aurelia on our honeymoon in Hawaii. It is still my favorite bag and I do use it during the summer months and receive many compliments.
I have it in black and adore it!
do you remember how much it was back then?
For the right price, I would buy this bag. It’s one of my favorites that the design house has ever done.
I have the cle (in white) and make up pouch (in black). It seems silly but to open by bag and see one of them there makes me smile, every time.
I have such a love/hate relationship with LV. My handbag collection is dominated by them but they have so many styles (like this one) that just don’t do it for me too. When I look back on this style it seems dated and very ‘tween’ to me.
This is clearly from a different era when everyone thought Carrie Bradshaw was cool… before we all realized that she was a horrible, self-centered, and irresponsible bitch, and that Miranda was the one we should all be celebrating.
Oook
i love this line because i love pop art and murakmis superflat kawaii movement i still wear my speedy and keep a new never worn i need you bag because of its beauty and its a technical masterpiece in terms of color and print !
“and its a technical masterpiece in terms of color and print”
HAHAHAHA
You know what’s a technical masterpiece?
The Mars rover.
Cotton canvas coated with PVC and then printed doesn’t qualify as a “technical masterpiece.”
That is your opinion and “bir” is entitled to make a comment without your ridicule. Can you be nice?
I apologize for calling out idiotic comments.
The multicolore speedy in white was my gateway into designer bags when I was in high school. I was OBSESSED. Funnily enough I now have practically all the bags and SLGs from the line *except* a speedy in either color (I wear my pochettes with long straps which looks more modern than the short studded straps). But at the right price I would be very tempted…
I’m not a collector such as many of you here by any means. I buy rarely and only what I’m wild about and then I buy three of each. My high-end bags consist of a black, a white, and a denim/blue each in select styles from Chanel, Prada, Fendi, Bottega, D&G, Chloe..,etc…, I’m so grateful for my habit of purchasing the same bags in each of theses colors now that so many are discontinued . I’m happy to say that both Murakami Speedys are pristine despite being worn often:) I’m very, very conservative (think Brooks Brothers) and these, when carried, are the sparkle of my outfits!