Louis Vuitton - Frenchless in France

Windows

I’ ve seen a lot of windows as usual in Paris.

This window looking like a garden was a Dior creation with only one purse and two shoes.

Colored filters were set up looking like windows to me.

The Louis Vuitton store on Place Vendome covered in dots as part of a colaboration with Yayoi Kusama who is 93.

Nice reflections.

Here is a kind of robot of Kusama window which is very lifelike as it moves.

As you can see, part of the store has the dot thing going on.

Another view. You need either a reservation or a passport to get in so I just looked from the outside.

While in LA, my friend Nancy and I went to an exhibit put on by Louis Vuitton. I was expecting more but it turned out to be decorated trunks done by various artists which didn’t do much for me but I loved the building and how it was painted.

The bright exterior.

Isn’t this fabulous?

There was a room full of balloons celebrating the birthday of Louis.

The exhibit was on Rodeo Drive which is full of designer stores such as this one by Dior.

This Bijon store had a matching Rolls Royce out front.

A Few More

I’m going to post a few more photos from New York City as my jet lag is still going strong and the only places in Paris that I’ve been to have been grocery stores. Plus, it’s gray and gloomy out there so it’s not very inviting. The transportation strikes are a bummer too. Aren’t I a gloomy gus? I’ll make myself get out of our apartment soon.

The cute frog sculpture in the Frick Museum.

We walked by the entrance to the Children’s Zoo in Central Park. I don’t think I’ve ever been. It made me think of the movie Madagascar in which the animals escape this zoo.

We saw this art installation in Chelsea. It’s called Falling Man. There was even a metal plaque.

The Louis Vuitton store on 5th avenue. I think they outdo the one in Paris.

Another look at the interior area of the Frick Museum.

We had an American breakfast at various local diners just about every morning. Maurice is crazy about them. We did usually skip lunch or dinner as they are very filling.

This and That in Paris

The Louis Vuitton store on the Champs Elysees has decorations in the windows looking like the Pompidou Museum.

Since I was nearby, I went into the George V Hotel to look at their flower decorations.

Not too much further from the hotel is this replica of the flame on the Statue of Liberty which became a memorial for Princess Diana as her car crashed near here.

Then I took a bus and got out near the Hotel de Ville, the seat of the government of Paris.

I had Bo Bun for lunch nearby. I love this dish.

Louis V

Louis Vuitton, that is, famed for those two initials, L and V. I don’t own anything made by this company and probably never will but I do enjoy walking though the store and looking at all of the quality merchandise. The store was packed with people. I guess many stores in the luxury market aren’t having financial problems.

Those famous initials.

A purse in the window. (You can’t take photos inside the store.)

They are doing animal skins too. Aren’t these shoes something? I never wear heels anymore but I like to look at them.

A flower in the window. They are celebrating an American artist, a friend of Marc Jacobs, the designer for Louis Vuitton, and have bags and shows with red and pink grafitti on them celebrating. The artist, now deceased, is named Sprouse.
Some facts I picked up while there: Louis Vuiton has 430 stores around the world. The store on the Champs Elysees has 350 Employees composed of 30 plus nationalties who speak a combined total of 34 languages. The store started in the Opera area before moving to the Champs Elysees. The store was closed for three years to undergo extensive renovations-they wouldn’t tell me how much it cost but I did hear that just the elevator alone was one million. The theme of the store is tradition and innovation. So they keep many of the same symbols and colors while using new ones too. It was the son of the original Louis Vuitton who came up with the logo of the L and V and the flower symbol as well to put on the bags and suitcases because they were being copied-like that has stopped anyone. They were also the first to use a celebrity-Jennifer Lopez-to advertise their products. They have a line of shoes and purses designed by Sophia Coppolo, the film director who did the movie, Marie Antoinette. You can get a bag or a watch designed just for you if you want. They never have sales, not ever.
PS-these photos may not be used without permission. The last time I had photos of Louis Vuitton on my blog, I found the photos all over the place, mainly on ebay and etsy. However, I am happy to let them be used. Just ask me first.