the others

a reader asked the other day if i own other bags besides LV. the answer is yes, but not as many or exciting as you guys might expect. im still very loyal to LV more than any other. but here they are:

l-r: Prada Sport maxi tote, Gucci belt bags, YSL Odeon duffle-tote, Paul Smith flight bag, Balenciaga Men's Day bags.

Comments
>Da_3o5_PreP
paulie. oh paulie smith. how much i love thee and your collections
and that oddly intruiguing flight bag.
andddddddddddddddddddddd....
ah, the odeon! WHAT A BEAUTIFUL BAG!!!!!
you are an idol to me.
28 August 2:23 PM

Excess Baggage (part 2)

ok, i think that's enough music videos for now. back to LV! here's a group photo i have taken a few months ago of just my LV limited edition bags and accessories (minus a couple i have since acquired):




they are all from the men's collections from 2000 to the current S/S 2007 collection. just a few more and my collection will finally be up-to-date.




Comments
>renier
hi duck. im a huge admirer and hope to inherit your estate one day. HAHA! its beautiful and tasteful.
but dont you have any goyard, prada, gucci (ive seen your balenciagas) any other designers?
id love to see!!

i have been wanting the soana sacoche bag that you have but in mocha for quite sometime now. I luckily ran into a guy that wanted to sell his. He started off at $5000 USD. I turned it down faster than lightning. He then offered a $3000 USD price tag. Im sure it was used very little as i noticed the handles were in tip top shape. Perhaps it also has to do with the leather? By being Kangaroo leather, im sure it maintains well. LIKE ALL LOUIS VUITTON BAGS.

ive also been dying for the raymundo glasses but they sell so fast here in miami, and the damn millionaires, well there are tons on ebay but im afraid of them not fitting well on my face. i have a VERY wide and round face. In pictures, and im more than willing to show you, or just go to my myspace, it may not look as if it were so, but it is. my current favorite and only sunglasses (that i use) are a pair of dior homme's from several collections ago. Ive been dying for an LV pair but the obsession glasses were too too girly. though they ARE BEAUTIFULLLLLLLLLLLL! what should i do? should i buy a pair but previous to that ask the seller if he will allow me to have a "no questions asked policy for returns?"

PLease advise, oh yeah and FANTASTIC SUPERFRAGALISTICEXPIALADOCIOUS COLLECTION MATE!!!!!!

i am a HUGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE fan, of your style and page though i have never commented.
take care!!
27 August 7:07 PM
(http://myspace.com/renier)

> deLuxeDuck
thanks Renier. im always excited to read commments left in my blog. i do have a few other non-LV bags but i guess im really faithful to Vuitton (except for that one serious but brief fling with Balenciaga back in 2005). by the way, you have just given me an idea for my next entry!

the Soana Sacoche MM is truly a fantastic bag. i'd urge anyone who likes it to get hold of one if they can. although USD$3000 is way above retail, if you really want it and can afford it plus you have exhausted all other means and sources then why not? it is highly unlikely that there would be fakes around - they'll be VERY poor copies if ever - so the only issue is the condition and if the seller is reliable and won't just leave you empty-handed.

i have to admit that the Raymundos are more "me" than my other two pairs. but i do love and use them equally. the Millionaires are oversized and will definitely fit a wide and round face just like mine. if you can fit into a pair of Obsession carrés or even the Bindis (which i wont recommend guys buy), then you'll be fine with the Millionaires.

if you have any other questions don't hesitiate to contact me. im always happy to enble... ooops i mean help.

cheers!

j
28 August 12:53 AM

beauty in sadness

last night's viewing of "In The Mood For Love" by Chinese director Wong Kar-Wai left me in so much awe. this has got to be one of the most beautiful films i've ever seen. one of the very few that i deem "life-changing" in how it has left a mark in my memory forever. it is a movie set in Hong Kong in the 60's about two people's repetitive, empty existence and the platonic romance that develops between them. every single scene is shot so beautifully, the stills are worth its own exhibition. Shigeru Umebayashi' haunting "Yumeji's Theme" is so moving and a perfect fit for those slow-paced scenes of mundaness. a lot is said but not much spoken.

here's a clip of one of the most memorable scenes of all time:




i don't know why, but i can esily find beauty in sadness more than in mirth. i wish i can understand Chinese as im sure the English subtitles miss-out on the little details. i highly recommend this film!

a new direction

LV is known for hiring celebrities to flog their wares - Uma Thurman, Chloe Sevigny, Pharrell Williams, Christina Ricci, Diane Kruger, Hayden Christiensen, Scarlett Johansson and *cringe* J-Lo - have all posed for LV. i guess it works, but im not a huge fan as i believe it diverts attention from the bags and clothes. plus the fact that people are swayed into buying a certain LV item just because their favourite celebrity is clutching it on their ads. its not real LoVe in my opinion. for F/W 2007-08 they're sticking to this formula but with a totally new look and feel. out with Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott's (who have done all their print ads since 1998 i believe) highly glossed-out style and in with the renowned Annie Leibovitz's softer, more realistic & sentimental photographs:

Andre Agassi & Steffi Graf:


i was rather hesitant at first about the notion of hot head Andre modeling for a luxury goods brand, but i really like the tenderness of this photo.

Catherine Deneuve:


although she looks highly botulized, its still a great photo.

Mikhail Gorbachev:


my favourite photo of the three. his selection was a total surprise, but a pleasant one at that.


the bags and luggage don't take centre stage, but are shown to be part of their everyday lives.

just as it should.

statistics

i just found out that my little blog has had over 20,000 visitors since it began. im sure its minute compared to most blogs, but im still surprised that people actually DO read it. THANKS EVERYONE!




Comments
>renier
:] youre welcome. sorry i dont comment as much as i would like!!!
27 August 7:33 PM
(http://www.myspace.com/renier)

call it cheating...

... but i really love these militaristic totes from Burberry Prorsum S/S 2008:


(photos from men.style.com)

LV Men's S/S 2008 Runway

here are some photos of what's in store for the boys next year:

Bequia leather is in its third season straight, i wonder if this will finally become a full fledged permanent line:



i really like the slanted zip on the side. i wonder if it is a separate flat pocket or does it give direct access to the main compartment. not too crazy about the powderblue coloured bag though.

Kangaroo is back! i was pleasantly surprised to see Sonana leather once more:



this is the style im most drawn to at the moment:



the LV website describes it as "pearl finished kangaroo leather bags in lustrous oyster colours." i think im SOLD!

at first i thought these bags had a pattern of little trunks on uncoated canvas, but upon closer inspection and more detailed photos later, it is actually a new Damier line:



"...others in horsehair with sea-wolf (a type of tanned fish skin) straps and kangaroo handles." they're definitely refering to the bag on the right. exotic indeed, but not prohibitively expensive like croc or snakeskin i would think.

oh, and i really like these retro specs too:



one of my grandfathers had a very similar pair.

i know this won't be the most popular to a number of people because of the complete absence of the LV Monogram pattern. im fine with it, i actually LoVe it!


(photos courtesy of men.style.com)

the sweetest thing

i'll be turning 28 next week and a friend from Canada sent me a very nice birthday present:



it's the Vichy necktie from where else but LV. im loving it, its very me. definitely made my day/week/month!

thank you very much Cecilia! you can be sure to expect something nice from me on your bday ;-)

j



Comments
>Cecilia again
ummm.... I forgot something, you don't need to buy anything for me. I've thought this over and think it's better to donate the money to SPCA (la Société pour la prévention de la cruauté envers les animaux), they need it more than I do during the holidays.
15 May 12:54 PM

>Cecilia
You're welcome! I enjoyed buying a lil something for you, even though I know you don't need anymore LVs :P
hmm... I didn't know you had this space, I've always thought it was myspace hehe
Aside: ummm... I liked the "be gentle with me" song and something about the cinematography in the "no one cares"(?) song was....deep...
15 May 12:46 PM

everybody loves Raymond

here's my latest LV addition....

Raymundo sunglasses


from the LouisVuitton Menswear S/S 2006 show collection:


these oversized aviators are just fantastic! very 1970's playboy penthouse, like something Tom Ford would wear himself (shame about his rather disappointing sunglasses range).

i still have to get used to seeing everything with an amber tinge, but its all good. i love it!

now Raymundo makes 3. here's Sam modelling them:

Raymundo:

Faux-Semblant Rectangle (a marron foncé et Damier):

Millionaire:

i better make the most out of them while the sun is still out..... ciao!

Feature Bag #8: Toile Chemise Tanger Sac Plat

it's been a long time coming... two whole years in fact, but the Tanger Sac Plat is finally part of my collection:


the only bag from the Men's S/S 2005 show collection



that sported the striped shirt fabric similar to the material they used for the legendary 1878 Bed-Trunk:



which probably explains why this bag comes with a little cushion:



while the geometric V screen print is taken from Gaston Vuitton's (1883-1970) personal monogram as seen on this 1901 Steamer bag:

these two historical references is what attracted me to this particular bag. but it somehow always gets bypassed for something i thought was more worthwhile having. but one last opportunity made itself available last week and i was most certainly not going to let go this time.

... and im still very pleased and relieved i finally got one!

Specs:
> Tanger Sac Plat en chemise toile, S/S 2005 - cotton polyester blend fabric with vachetta leather trim - brown "sari" cotton lining - interior slit pocket - dimensions: 34.5 x 40 cm - RRP AU$1,210.00

PS: i would've also loved the Keepall if it only made it to production




photos: Louis Vuitton, Men.Style.Com.