With features including a special installation of vintage trunks, an exhibition curated by Katie Grand showcasing the ready-to-wear designs from Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton, and artwork from Gilbert and George it really is a retail destination to behold.

Set to open its doors to the cream of shopping elite on Friday 28th May the new store has been described as the most luxurious Vuitton Maison in the world to date, and after being treated to a sneak preview and tour we’d be inclined to agree.

Designed by architect Peter Marino the store is set across three floors encompassing 1500 square metres of retail space. But the great thing about Marino’s design means that for such a big space the store manages to retain an intimate feel, achieved by cleverly sectioned areas for different collections.

The lower ground menswear floor is accessed via the spectacular glass staircase which has 23 square metres of glass tread surface which includes LED to show film and animation. The floor is divided into four intimate retail spaces, which include a sleek bag bar where you can perch atop a stool whilst selecting your perfect man bag, a gentlemen’s lounge style area and a relaxed catwalk collection room accessorised with vintage furniture.

So if you’re wondering where to find us in the next few weeks there’s a good chance we’ll be wandering around the new Louis Vuitton Maison or kicking back in one of their very comfortable lounge chairs, that’s if security haven’t thrown us out by then.

Louis Vuitton Maison, 17-20 New Bond Street opens 28th May.

It’s been a tale of many cities; taking in culture and influences from around the world, Louis Vuitton and The Selby have escorted us on the far-reaching journey of a man’s wardrobe and today the final stop on the map is released.

It began in Paris, at the heart of the brand, with a visit to the family home and workshop in Asnieres, before taking in the studio and the buzz of a ready-to-wear men’s catwalk show in the centre of the city.

Next on the whistle-stop tour we visited the diverse city of Shanghai where we were introduced to one of China’s most influential designers Les Suen, before moving on to the cosmopolitan city of Tokyo, where MC Verbal and designers Tatsuya Matsui and Yasumichi Morita were our cultural guides.

Next it was New York – the big city with even bigger personalities. After meeting entrepeneur Andre Balazs in Soho, it is on to the garment district where we encounter discerningly stylish Waris Ahluwalia, a talented jewellery designer and actor.

So it is now that we arrive in London, the finale of the grand world tour – and a fitting city in which to bring the journey to an end – as Louis Vuitton celebrate the opening of their New Bond Street store on May 28th.

Tim Marlow, the art historian and writer, and rising star of the contemporary art scene Oliver Clegg are among the London boys that complete the journey of a man’s wardrobe. As we meet our city guides, the chimes of Big Ben ring out in the background, only to be disturbed by the drone of city sirens and the familiar voice of ‘Mind the gap’.

Visit Louis Vuitton’s Journey of a Man’s Wardrobe to experience the fifth and final installment now.

Previous campaigns have featured eminent figures from entertainment, politics and space travel including Mikhail Gorbachev, Keith Richards and astronaut Buzz Aldrin. But the latest campaign which aims to celebrate this years World Cup sees a few of football’s biggest stars get the Vuitton treatment.

Decked out in stylish Louis Vuitton gear footballing greats Pele, Maradonna and Zidanne are captured hanging out together over a game of table football – as you do when you’re a world class footballler. As well as starring in the campaign shot by legendary Annie Leibovitz, the trio have been captured in a behind the scenes footage which will be available to watch on the dedicated site set to launch next week.

It seems that Louis Vuitton are bigger football fans than we might have imagined, as in addition to the football-star-studded campaign the brand have also designed a special edition order trophy case for the world cup – who said that fashion and football don’t mix?

We must admit we’re far more interested in seeing the greats head to toe in Louis Vuitton shot by Annie, and luckily we won’t have to wait long, as the much awaited campaign will feature on the Louis Vuitton Journeys site, which is launched on Monday 17th. Watch a taster video here.

]]> http://www.mflforhim.com/archives/2010/05/14/pele-maradona-and-zidane-for-louis-vuitton/feed/ 1 http://www.mflforhim.com/archives/2009/02/10/come-winter-come-summer-rock-a-perforated-number/ http://www.mflforhim.com/archives/2009/02/10/come-winter-come-summer-rock-a-perforated-number/#comments Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:03:08 +0000 Ikechukwu Onyewuenyi http://men.myfashionlife.com/?p=649 For a minute, last summer, I was firmly convinced that an upheaval in Thom Browne’s sockless trend was on the cards. The Sartorialist and Face Hunter had spotted a few dandies about Europe who were oddly sporting ankle socks with their lace-ups as opposed to venturing out sockless and, upon seeing this, I was quick to herald it as trend to watch for. Optimistic as I was, Louis Vuitton’s perforated richelieu shoe has definitely put a dent in that once-upon-a-time high. Your guess is as good as mine as to whether Browne’s sockless fad inspired these LV shoes, but I have to admit that the shoe’s perforated aesthetic gives those sockless goers a more attention-grabbing twist to their vogue.

Fortunately, these perforated lace-ups come in enough whimsical styles and colors for your imagination to run amuck. For instance, the dark fashions of winter would mesh well with the jet black anthracite richelieu shoe while the beige and cocoa hues of the navigator richelieu shoe are a go for those summery months.

Now there’s no reason why one could not wear these perforated lace-ups with socks. Nevertheless, throwing caution to the wind and experimenting with inept colored socks is sure to produce a double dose of eccentricity that may be too much to pull off or for onlookers to stomach. For starters, the perforated nature of the shoe is enough quirk so playing it safe in the sock department will suffice. In the case of the anthracite richelieu, a traditional black on black works best. On the contrary, I personally would do away with any socks when wearing navigator richelieu. Featured in Louis Vuitton’s summer 2009 catalog, the navigator richelieu’s design coupled with the tan colors screams tropics and promenades where stuffy socks are definitely not welcome.

With all this said, as partial as I am to see socks worn with lace-ups, I have to say these perforated shoes are far more striking when worn sockless. Even though I’ve elaborated on the ways socks can be paired with these perforated shoes, judging from the SS09 Louis Vuitton’s men show, they were made to be worn sans les chaussettes!

Louis Vuitton anthracite richelieu calf-leather shoes ($975) and navigator richelieu suede calf-leather shoes ($675) are available at LouisVuitton.com.

[Source]

Louis Vuitton have enlisted the help of our favourite 007 to be the new face of the luxury brand’s, “Core Values Campaign”. 

Shot by Annie Leibovitz, Connery is pictured looking oh so cool and relaxed by the dock near his home in the Bahamas with his Louis Vuitton travel bag and wearing a panama hat, a polo neck and  rolled-up chinos.

The ad reads, “There are journeys that turn into legends.” Of Connery as the face of the campaign, Vuitton’s director of communications Antoine Arnault said,

“We are extremely proud that an actor of such immense stature should have agreed to participate in Louis Vuitton’s Core Values campaign. This wonderful portrait, which captures all Sir Sean Connery’s legendary allure, is bound to have a tremendous impact.”

Past promoters of the core values campaign include Keith Richards, Francis Ford Coppola, Catherine Deneuve and Mikhail Gorbachev.

[via My Fashion Life]