les musiques que j'aime 11

here's another installment of my favourite music:


Santogold - "L.E.S. Artistes"





Gotye - "Thanks For Your Time"





Metisse - "Boom Boom Ba"





Bic Runga - "Get Some Sleep"





Mark Ronson feat. Daniel Merriweather - "Stop Me"

Louis Vuitton Casino Night

28 August 2008. LV Crown Casino, Melbourne, Australia.

got a few party souvenirs:





yes, we did try to buy stuff with the LV moolah. with no success.



here's the current window display:



seems to say: "all eyes on Damier Graphite".... isn't it fantastic? this has got to be the best and my favourite to date.

and our little loot from last night:



that's my brother's Rem. i got my dad the iPhone case for Father's Day. the palladium cube phone charm for mum.

where's mine you ask? my SA showed me the Porte-Document to inspect last night. though stunning IRL, it just wasn't for me. if it had a shoulder strap, it could've been a different story. im just waiting for the rest of the collection to arrive in store before i make a final decision.

the Graphites have landed!

they're here!!!




although last week was the worldwide release (you can finally see them on the Louis Vuitton website too). for us Melbournians, Louis Vuitton has decided to formally launch their newest line and F/W 2008 Collection on the 28th of August with a little cocktail party at the Crown Casino boutique. why the delay? they wanted to tie it with their annual Father's Day event, which is celebrated here in Australia on the first Sunday of September. pretty clever....


check out the invitation:





but its no regular invite, inside is a special Louis Vuitton poker chip:





here's a closer look:




"Louis Vuitton Casino Night". this has got to be the best i have ever received to date. i wonder if i can cash it in for some LV goodies. hehehehe.....

Feature Bag #16: Monogram Black Valisette MM

this month i present to you my Valisette MM from the Monogram Black Collection, F/W 2001:




i may have just crossed the line with this one since its actually from the women's show where the colour black dominated. here are the runway shots:


(l-r: GM, MM, PM)

and they were also featured in the F/W'01 ad campaign:


(MM left, GM right)


but just looking at it, who would know? it actually looks quite unisex. the size is just right too. not too small to be mistaken for a handbag, but not big enough to be a suitcase. i just wasn't sure about the rounded corners at first. but im very happy with it now. here's a size comparison with my Epi Larry briefcase* (Men's A/W 2004):




its the perfect, compact, hard-sided and lightweight case to use as a diagnostic kit:




this "little suitcase" is lined in luxurious black silk and trimmed with polished silver hardware:






the Serrure "S" lock ties this modern Valisette to the traditional hard-sided suitcases the house is known for. i love it.




but what exactly is Monogram Black? do not mistake it for Monogram Glacé or Monogram Mat. the only similarity is the embossed pattern on fine calfskin. Monogram Black doesn't have that metallic sheen as seen on Mat. nor is it the same as Monogram Glacé because the leather is slightly grained and it wouldn't attain that mirror gloss patina Glacé is famous for. its actually closer to the smooth leather trim on black Epi or Taiga. here's a close-up:




seen enough? ok, one last look:




mmmmm.....



runway photos courtesy of Style.com; ad campaign photo from Google Images.

my sentiments exactly

you know who you are.




cotton t-shirt from A.P.C. (http://www.apc.fr/)

Meet the Graphites

one last Damier Graphite entry before they finally hit the shelves in less than a month *YIPEE!!!* the new Damier Graphite canvas will become part of LV's permanent collection roster. a perfect counterpart to the mainly feminine Damier Azur line introduced as part of the 2006 Cruise Collection. these new masculine models were named after the some of the most prominent and celebrated men in the field of modern architecture. come meet the bags...

Jørn





this soft briefcase is named after Jørn Utzon, the creator of the iconic Sydney Opera House.



Ieoh





the Nil reporter's darker twin honours the architect behind the world famous glass pyramids of the Louvre, I.M. Pei.



Renzo





architect Renzo Piano, best known for the truly unique Centre Pompidou in Paris shares his name with the newly reworked Bastille messenger.



Tadao





this brand new shopper is named after Tadao Ando, one of Japan's most celebrated architects. he is best known for the minimalistic and highly spiritual Church on the Water in Hokkaido, Japan.



Rem





this new incarnation of the Amazone camera bag is named after Rem Koolhaas. an example of his work can be seen in the Prada flagship store (the one with the undulating "skateboard" ramp) in New York City.



other LV classics include the Keepall bandouliere 55




Grimaud





Pegase 60





they are also introducing a new overnight duffle bag named Roadster:





while the strictly limited F/W 2008 Runway (Defile) Collection distinguishes themselves from the permanent collection with their removable white handle covers and trim. only two models are being made:


Sac DeVoyage





and Porte-Document (Soft Briefcase)





in stores worldwide 15 August.



with thanks to bagaholicboy for supplying the photos =)

here's to everyone

Joan Baez "Here's To You"



an simple but extremely moving one stanza song by the American folk singer in collaboration with acclaimed composer Ennio Morricone (he of "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" fame) for the movie Sacco e Vanzetti (Guiliano Montaldo, 1971). this is a song about the trial and execution of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, two "anarchists" found guilty of armed robbery and murder which sparked mass protests for their release due to a gamut of issues such as anti-Italian and anti-immigrant prejudice, blatant disregard for civil liberties and general prejudice. more can be read about them HERE

LV Chaddy makes three

its official, Louis Vuitton is opening a third boutique in Melbourne at one of the biggest malls in the continent, Chadstone Shopping Mall. this self proclaimed "Fashion Capital" it is undergoing a huge renovation/redevelopment which spans like a two-level bridge between the high-end David Jones department store and populist Target. other high end boutiques reported to have signed leases are Tiffany &Co, Hermes, Chanel and Gucci. this will be the first time in Australia that Louis Vuitton opens a boutique outside a city's CBD. it is scheduled to open before the year ends. i don't know what to think about this just yet.

Feature Bag #15: Monogramouflage Treillis

ITS WAR!!!!!



if i ever get drafted by LVMH to fight counterfeiting and LV haters im all set:



presenting Treillis, part of Takashi Murakami's latest collaboration with Louis Vuitton - the Monogramouflage. my first and ONLY Murakami piece. after doing whacky flowers and cutesy cherries, they finally thought about the boys too. according to the French SA, "treillis" actually means combat/army pants. next to the bag is "Para-Kiti DOB", a lim. ed. print by the master of Superflat Pop Art:





the print was purchased in 2002. it coincidentally shows both camouflage and Damier patterns. i know there was initial resistance from a lot of LV lovers about this line, but i've always liked Monogramouflage especially the Treillis. although i thought i have convinced myself i can live without it. then when i finally saw it in real life i realized i couldn't. i was surprised that its twice as big as i thought. which is a good thing. my Ouvea Carryall (Feature Bag #3) can actually fit inside:




my brother wasn't impressed when i showed him photos of the bag initially, but when he saw it in real life he was an instant convert. one feature i like is the rigid base so it doesn't sag:




the black trim makes it more masculine and rugged:




and the interior pockets are very practical:




what serious LV collector could resist when it says this:




one more look:




im absolutely astounded!!!!

LV F/W 2008 shoe inspection

just counting the days until Damier Graphite finally gets released here in Australia. for the mean time, here's my F/W 2008 footwear shortlist:

Damier Graphite Elan sneakers:




but of course. also available as a high top and a motorcycle boot. now i know why i didn't get the other Elan in Damier ebene (see Jan'08 entry "the Zephyrs did it!").



im loving the rather understated style of these new "Poker" Derby with covered laces:








particularly the pink calfskin (top left) and the taupe patent (bottom right). it is interesting to note that LV's been churning out pink shoes for men recently. there's another one coming up next Spring. maybe i'll finally bite. but the one that really stood out for me is this beaut:







it looks like metallic patent degradé, but i'd like to think its mother-of-pearl. i love it!


many thanks to the Bagaholicboy for sharing those photos.