LV vs BURBERRY.

i'm not really looking to buy a new bag, but i've been stalking a few..and saving pennies (literally) for one near my bday though ;)

in the meantime, i'm taking my time looking for that perfect one to purchase. i've been lOving this burberry bag pictured below for the longest time. i can see it being well used during summer, fall, winter and spring.

but i've also been lOving louis vuitton's newest monogram canvas tote/shoulder bag: the stresa. i love the larger version, but not the price...who does?!

i've noticed since it's hit LV boutiques all around - it's the most common bag i've seen in just the last few weeks. every starbucks or target trip i make it seems like i see one of these LV stresa's being toted around. so that's something to consider. other than that, i don't like the strap you have to unbuckle just to get to zippered part...before you can actually get into the bag. that's not very functional is it. so why'd they design it that way? for the look of it? well it does look nice with that extra wide vachette strip, but still. don't think it's very functional.

what do YOU think?

Burberry Bridle House Check Tote, $1595.00 USD

lOve everything about this bag. the size, the look, the feel, the color - abolutely everything! well, except the price ;)

Louis Vuitton Stresa in sizes PM and GM, $1360.00 and $1520.00 USD

^ inside of LV Stresa.

(the first reason why i wouldn't purchase this: the annoyance of having to unbuckle top strap to be able to unzip bag to then open!)

that'd just be ultra frustrating..

wouldn't have the patience.

"the best make-up of a woman is passion. but cosmetics are easier to buy." -
Yves Saint Laurent

ysl's muse, catherine deneuve, circa 1960's.

catherine deneuve in louis vuitton ad. sigh. carrying lv mono canvas manhattan gm.

LV Budget $650 (USD)

*for k.

a friend of mine inspired this post. a friend of hers has a handbag budget of $650.00 usd. what, at LV, would you be able to purchase - handbags wise - around that price range. and in monogram canvas?

i could dream up various combos (slg's, clutches, handbag, etc.) ;p but for practicality, functionality, convenience and price range in handbags, here is what i came up with. let me know if there's something else that can be added to this LV dream list. *sigh*

^ The Neverfull Collection comes in 3 sizes.

GM is Grande Model, the largest Neverfull size; MM is Medium Model; PM is Petite Model. GM is a great size for most, however, PM is a great size for those who aren't into ginormous handbag totes, and for those that carry lightly daily...

^ Neverfull PM.

Currently $650 USD. I say "currently" because LV does price increase approximately 3x per year. Measures 11.2" x 8.6" x 5.1". Open top with dog leash closure and side cinching for extra security and versatility. Cotton canvas lining with a huge inside zip pocket which can hold makeup, keys, cell, odds & ends.

^ Odeon PM. $715.00.

$75 more than budget, here is another option. Secure top zip closure, sleek messenger style shoulder bag, one outide flat pocket to slide loose paper, inside patch and cell phone pocket. This is the smallest size of the Odeon line. Adjustable straps are a plus.

Measurements 11.4" x 10.2" x 2".

^ Odeon GM size retails at $1,100.00 USD.

I placed a pic comparison to show size difference between PM & GM.

^ Montorguiel PM, $800 USD.

When this adorable LV named after a trendy bohemian-chic community in Paris, France first came out, it was retailed at $750 I think? Can't remember. But for $150 more in budget, this could be a forever til death departs you bag..

^ Eva Clutch (can also be used as a daily purse). $550 USD.

Measurements 10" x 5.1" x 1. 8". Can be carried short over shoulder with chain, or cross body with Vachette strap. Strap is removable. It seems tiny, but this clutch purse can hold a small wallet or a small coin pouch, keys, makeup, cell. Daily essentials.

Heaven Sent Speedy

In a fairytale world, Louis Vuitton Speedy's would fall from the sky above me. Or, I'd have a cloud of speedy's follow me wherever I would go. (((In my head))) Just like this picture below :D

The story of Louis Vuitton & Audrey Hepburn. Well, they didn't know of eachother of course, but have patience & read this interesting fact! ...

*image above is Audrey Hepburn with her Classic Monogram Canvas Speedy 30, circa late 1950's to early 1960's*

below info. via Wikipedia :D

In 1867, the company participated in the universal exhibition in Paris. To protect against the duplication of his look, he [Louis Vuitton] changed the Trianon design to a beige and brown stripes design in 1876. By 1885, the company opened its first store in London, England on Oxford Street. Soon thereafter, due to the continuing imitation of his look, in 1888, the Damier Canvas pattern was created by Louis Vuitton, bearing a logo that reads "marque L. Vuitton déposée," which translates to "mark L. Vuitton deposited" or, roughly, "L. Vuitton trademark". In 1892, Louis Vuitton died, and the company's management passed to his son.
1893 through 1936
After the death of his father, Georges Vuitton began a campaign to build the company into a worldwide corporation, exhibiting the company's products at the Chicago World Fair in 1893. In 1896, the company launched the legendary Monogram Canvas and made the worldwide patents on it. Its graphic symbols, including quatrefoils and flowers (as well as the LV monogram), were based on the trend of using Japanese and Oriental designs in the late Victorian Era. The patents later prove to be successful in stopping counterfeiting. In this same year, Georges traveled to the USA, where he toured various cities (such as NY and Chicago), selling Vuitton products during the visit. By 1914, the Louis Vuitton Building opened on the Champs-Elysees. It was the largest travel-goods store in the world at the time. Soon thereafter, the Louis Vuitton Speedy bag was introduced (both are still manufactured today). In 1936 Georges Vuitton passed away, and, his son, Gaston-Louis Vuitton, assumed control of the company.
During this period, the look of the leather was utilized in everything from small purses and wallets to larger pieces of luggage. In order to broaden its line, the company revamped its signature Monogram Canvas in 1959 to make it more supple, allowing it to be used for purses, bags, and wallets. Audrey Hepburn is seen carrying the bag in the film Charade (1963).

Audrey w/speedy 30 bag & Audrey w/speedy 30 bag & unidentified male.

Jessica Simpson, Monogram Canvas Speedy 35, circa 2007

Hillary Duff, Dentelle Speedy, Circa 2006


Louis Vuitton Stephen Sprouse Graffiti Speedy 30 Collection/Green, circa 2009


Speedy 30's in: Damier Azur, Damier Ebene, Snow Sculpture Speedy, Mono Canvas, Epi Cassis & Epi Rouge



Speedy 30 in Gold Mirage (Miroire) (?) Anyway, this is too gawdy for me. No offense to others, but I would not be able to pull this off unless I were Donatella Versaci or somethin'.



Here's Lil' Kim with her Black MC Speedy 30. *Sigh* I need this to go with my White MC Speedy 30 I purchased last August '08 :D I LOVE this Multicolor Speedy BAG!

Miss J. Simpson with her Black Cube Speedy. I like how it's a Speedy n' all, but I'm just not feeling this bag-especially for the price! I could buy 3 regular canvas Speedy's for the price of this 1 Black Speedy Cube or whatever..

So, my SA (sales associate) at my local LV Boutique showed this Patchwork Speedy 30 to me a year or so ago, and it was priced at $1,500 USD I think at the time? Anyway, I thought it looked sloppy. I couldn't wear it. Instead at the time, I purchased the classic Mono Canvas Speedy 30, which was about $1,000 LESS. And much more classic.




Okay, so, can I just say for those women obsessed with Louis Vuitton & the color pink - this would be THE perfect LV Speedy to have?!

This version of the Classic Louis Vuitton Speedy is the Luxe version of Speedy in Ostrich by Richard Prince, and at the time of launch (2008?) was available for purchase at $12,900 USD. Anyway, just wanted to share image below of how fabulous this Speedy looks. I'm a pink girl; I'm a speedy girl. This bag would suit me. Although I'm not loving the gold "Speedy" emblem. Still, this bag is simply gorgeous. Gorgeous! ..... !#$%^&*&^%$#! I. Want. It.

Louis Vuitton Neverfull Collection

The Neverfull Collection is LV LOve *girlsighhh*

So, I just found out the St. Moritz edition of this Neverfull GM pictured below is available with only 200-500 limited pieces at the St. Moritz Louis Vuitton Boutique in Switzerland, just as there were only 500 limited edition pieces of the St. Tropez Neverfull GM piece at the St. Tropez LV Boutique in France. Wow. Wow. Wow. I'm excited, but can't get my hopes up. I'd love to have this Baby Blue St. Moritz piece in my collection, but not only am I NOT going to Switzerland anytime soon, I'm sure there are locals in St. Moritz on the binder thick waitlist, right?

(Hey Chuck, will you be going home for a visit anytime soon?? heheee)

With so many Neverfull lines to choose from, and 3 different sizes, it's easy to find which style best suits your lifestyle. Personally, I've fallen in love with the most ginormous size of them all, Neverfull GM (Grande Modele size) in Damier Ebene, pictured directly below (middle tote). It's LOve!

*Louis Vuitton Prices listed reflect current USD as of June, 2009

Louis Vuitton Neverfull's Permanent Collection Piece.
Damier Ebene Neverfull GM ($750 USD); MM ($700 USD); PM ($650 USD)

Monogram Canvas Neverfull GM, $750 USD

Stephen Sprouse Limited Louise Vuitton Neverfull Rose MM, $1,360 USD

LE Moca Monogram Takashi Murakami Neverfull was only available for purchase at the Museum of Contemporary Arts in Los Angeles, CA and was priced in 2008 at $950 USD. These bags are hard to find in excellent to mint condition. I just lOve the pink lining!
Finally below, this extremely rare Crocodile Neverfull is available for $32,000 (USD), but that was last year! I think the price increase has gone up to $38,000 (USD) - not completely sure now- but it's what I've heard. Why so pricey? Why, it's exotic crocodile leather of course. I'd rather save the $37,250 I don't have in my bag fund and buy the $750 Neverfull GM in Damier Ebene instead ;P Anyway, there are only 3 or 4 of these rare and exotic Neverfull Crocodile GM Totes worldwide (or so I've read somewhere). Wonder who has one? Beyonce or Jessica Simpson perhaps? ;)

Personally, I couldn't spend that much on a bag even if I had 1 million to burn! That's college tuition for a relative of mine or something!?#*%!