Oak NYC channeling Louis Vuitton S/S 2010?

Large Foxtail Keychain (100% fur) $58 at Oak NYC

I was wondering how long it would take before we saw the proliferation of Marc Jacob's rabbit tail trend for Louis Vuitton Spring 2010 and it appears, dear readers, that the time has come. Granted, Oak's foxtail keychains (for men, mind you) are not exactly the same kind that were sent down the runway, and they don't come in neon colors. However, this is a step in that direction which leaves me with a question: just how much time do we have left before the Williamsburg-based phenomenon goes global? Only time will tell.

Runway to Reality: Louis Vuitton S/S 2010

Louis Vuitton S/S 2010

It hasn't even been 5 full days yet since they debuted on the runway and fashionistas are already rocking looks from the Louis Vuitton S/S 2010 collection! While the select few who actually have access to the pieces can be called lucky, they've also got to be among some of the ballsiest people I know. Marc Jacob's collection for LV was crazy! I mean come on. Shoulder bags with rabbit tails! Neon colors! Furry kitten heels! Afros!?!? Don't get me wrong, the collection was great and forward thinking but I didn't imagine that the pieces would translate from runway to ready-to-wear with such ease. I can't wait to see exactly how much influence this particular collection will have on apparel and accessory trends come Spring.

Real-life street shots from the street courtesy of Jak & Jil:

As seen on the Vuitton runway:

Where Are You Louizy?

LOUIS VUITTON/underground/

So, although vcuStyle is taking a break for the summer (hey...writers need vacation time, too!), there are just some things I can't keep to myself! For example, Louis Vuitton is opening a concept store in the basement of Japanese department store Seibu tomorrow and it looks OFF THE CHAIN! It's only going to be there for a limited time, though, and while you might be able to find Vuitton in a basement, you can bet that there won't be anything at basement prices. Enjoy your summer. Peace!

It saddens me to say...

I'll be leaving you all for a few days. I'm headed to Las Vegas for the M.A.G.I.C apparel market and trade shows until next week. In my attempt to get back at the airlines for charging outrageous baggage check fees, I decided that I was going to try and pack an entire week's worth of clothing into my LV Keepall and just carry it on board (I dare not check in such a thing)! Unfortunately, there just wasn't enough room for my MacBook so I won't be blogging about my trip, New York Fashion Week, or anything else for an entire week. However, I will be back just in time to give you the scoop from London Fashion Week and tell you what went down at M.A.G.I.C. But then, on second thought, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Keep it fierce Richmond!

Kanye+LV

At the Louis Vuitton menswear show in Paris last week, Kanye West sat front row as the line of sneakers he designed as part of a collaboration with the house paraded down the runway. Not mind-blowingly awesome, but not terrible bad, either. What do you think?

Watch the magic unfold

Dying to see Madonna wrap her legs around her head in live action (take note, ladies)? Here is "The Making of: Madonna for Louis Vuitton", a behind-the-scenes featurette with Madonna! and Marc! and bags! and shoes! Enjoy.

eLuxury calls it quits

While it usually appears that brick-and-mortar retailers "just come and go like come and go like seasons (f-e-r-g-a-l-i-c-i-o-u-s)", online sites seem to take a little bit longer to tank, probably since their margins are so much smaller. Well, news has come today that six months from now the LVMH-run online retailer eLuxury.com will be no more. Not only is this shocking because it means I will have one less place to drool over Dior Homme hi-top sneakers, it's also extremely out of character for LVMH. The luxury goods conglomerate has, until now, been the kryptonite (why did my spell check approve that word? it's not even real! but yet I get corrections for things like Vuitton, Balenciaga, and Chanel. poposturous) to this SuperRecession. Although I decided to purchase a Damier print Louis Vuitton Keepall 50 duffle bag over the holidays (economy, who?), is it possible that other people stopped? I don't know. What I do know is that eLuxury has just been put on life support....I'll let you know when they finally pull the plug (becuase you know what that means: DESIGNER SALES)!

Are your latest treasures really just last season's pumps?

Are this season's pumps just a fleeting memory???

I've been pondering this issue for quite some time now and I thought it would make a very interesting topic for discussion: would you buy a pair of fashion heels fresh off the runway? This past season I wasn't so much blown away by the clothing in certain collections but, rather, it was the high heels which captivated me so. From the sculpted pumps at Christian Dior to the tribal-inspired feathered heels at Louis Vuitton, I couldn't keep my eyes off what the models were wearing on their feet. Obviously such fancy footwear is a little out of my league (although I do wish more attention could be given to men's shoes), but I still couldn't wait for those heels to arrive on the sales floor at Saks, Barney's, and Bergdorf. I was just dying to spot a woman walking down the street in a soaringly high pair so that I could yell, "Hey, I love your shoes! Rodarte, non?"

But, as the shows in Milan and Paris ended so did my fantasy and I slowly floated back into my own life. Occasionally, however, I would stumble across a $950 pair of sequined Miu Miu pumps on Net-a-Porter or see those feathered Louis Vuitton heels in ELLE listed at over $2,000. Then they announced "recession" and I began to think, "Who is buying these outrageously priced shoes? I mean not only are they impossible to walk in, but they're also going to be sooooo dated!" It's such a shame. The heels are beautiful and no doubt exquisitely made, but how long are they actually wearable? You pay over $1,000 this season for a pair of your favorite designer's pumps and only to turn around and have them be outshined by another pair in less than 6 months.

A number of factors seem to be at play in this equation. Just how lavish and loud are these shoes? On one hand, a basic black satin Prada heel can be worn for a lifetime, despite their age, while pair of platform, patent leather Yves Saint Laurent booties can only be worn for so long before they're officially chisled into the tombstone for Fall 2008 (R.I.P). On the other hand, this season's platform, patent leather Yves Saint Laurent booties are only going to be available for so long (and quantities are limited) so it might behoove one to purchase a pair immediately. Then, 9 years from now when patent comes back around and people begin to question where you got your shoes you can answer, "Oh my, these old things? They're vintage."

So, what's your take on the issue?

Yves Saint Laurent

Christian Dior

Rodarte

Louis Vuitton

Prada

The Louis Vuitton "Sprouse Tribute" Collection is Here

Among the various collaborations done by Louis Vuitton with innovative artists since Marc Jacobs has been at the helm of their creative team, one of the most memorable (and widely counterfeited, no doubt) is the graffiti collection done by New York artist Stephen Sprouse that launched back in 2001. The bags were an instant hit, selling out immediately. Now, 5 years after his death back in 2004, Vuitton is revisiting the popular grafitti print with their Steven Sprouse Tribute Collection. Hitting the Louis Vuitton Greene Street location in New York City this Thursday, and launching at stores worldwide on February 2, the collection will re-release favorites such as the graffiti scarves, handbags, and luggage in addition to introducing new items to the collection such as the new Roses print for bags and limited edition t-shirts, Day-Glo orange, pink, and green (glow in the dark?!? how awesome is that going to be!), and even a limited edition skateboard deck with a $8, 250 pricetag. Check out the online gallery here to be blown away.

More of those Madonna+Louis Vuitton ads

Just Released: Madonna for Vuitton

Louis Vuitton has just released two of the six prints they'll be using as advertisements in their campaign with Madonna. Both Vuitton and Madonna lovers alike will be able to find the rest of the photos, shot by Steven Meisel, in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, ELLE, and other fashion magazines come February.

Campaign Alert: Madonna Rocks the Vuitton

It seems as though Her Madgesty has a lot going on in her life (both personal and professional). Currently completing the North American leg of her Sticky & Sweet tour and having just recently settled her divorce with Guy Ritchie, Madonna has been offered $10 million to be the face of Louis Vuitton's Spring 2009 campaign. While it was originally rumored that the ad would be shot by the legendary duo Mert & Marcus, it has since been confirmed that Madonna will be shot by none other than Steven Meisel.

Check out Madonna jumping right into her new role as a walking billboard for Vuitton's handbags below. Now, let's just hope the Queen of Pop doesn't come away from this gig with a French accent, too!

Madonna wearing a dress from the Vuitton S/S 09 collection to the GUCCI benefit party last week at the Plaza Hotel in NYC

Louis Vuitton F/W 08 Damier Graphite Collection

In case you didn't know, Louis Vuitton kicked off it's men's F/W 08 season by introducing the new Damier Graphite Collection. After the re-launch of Vuitton's Damier back in 1996 by Marc Jacobs (a pattern which now accounts for one third of the label's bag and accessory business), Paul Helbers, men's design director for Louis Vuitton, updated the classic print with a sort of understated, and very masculine, elegance by presenting it in a black and grey pattern. "Graphite gives things a more masculine image and finish," Jacobs has said. The new line has been available in Louis Vuitton boutiques worldwide since late August and is now available on eLuxury.