Please Come To Boston: Resolve Your Travel Issues with Excess Baggage (Men & Women)
LoVe To Travel!
(If you like anything, click the names of the suitcase.)
I'm cheating on my man with another man. I know, I know. I'm not ashamed. My indiscretion is with a person named Louis. But I'm open about my affair. I needed a REAL suitcase in my life. If you're curious about what I do with Louis, read on.
It's a known fact that many rich people like to be able to buy things "ordinary" people can't buy. They buy things they don't necessarily need just to show you how much money they have that you probably never will. We shiver in wonder at their decadence (and sanity) on buying things like a $10,000 Algonquin Hotel martini or the local, non-aviation related actual $100 hamburger. These things are wasteful, in a way, and certainly "luxuries" that the average Joe or even the above average Joe cannot or will not buy, the wealthy person secure in the fact that that item is only within their reach. But the one thing the ultra-rich cannot get away without buying is Louis Vuitton luggage, no matter how they feel about the rest of us owning it. Is owning something from Louis Vuitton an equalizer? I think so . . . I truly agree with Marc Jacobs' assessment that Louis Vuitton is as close to egalitarian luxury as you're likely to find.
Louis Vuitton has achieved the Holy Grail of brand power: a product that every person from the very richest to the very poorest, has to own. Even if you do not care for their product, from a business standpoint, you must respect them. Numerous books have examined this phenomenon and how Louis Vuitton managed to achieve it. Whether during recessions or depressions, Louis Vuitton remains an obsession. The brand's continued relevance and profit in luxury goods and apparel, without ever suffering financial losses, is akin to that of "Enya-nomics," which references Enya's ability to sell millions upon millions of albums without ever touring.
Louis Vuitton's, the man himself, believed in traveling, and particularly luxury traveling, all over. His home outside of Paris is filled with art and antiques from all over the world, the brunt of it from every corner of Asia. His travels to Asia and his love for Japonisme are the reason for some of the motifs used in his most famous products. It's actually fitting that the lion's share of his profit comes from Asian markets, specifically Japan, since the flower motif in their logo pattern is inspired by their culture. And the Japanese, since the ending of isolation from before the Meiji period, has taken to international travel handily. And for them, and so many others, a matched set of Samsonite doesn't make moving from one location to another feel like a fabulous adventure. The Darleeling Limited would have lost a little magic if they'd all been using a beat up Wal-Mart rolling suitcase, I'm sure. Being able to come and go as you please, traveling from place to place is a indeed still a luxury and having the proper suitcase for that event is a small piece of putting together the puzzle that is a successful trip.
Traveling, it seems today, is harder to make the time to do, at least in America. It's more of a luxury now than ever for most Americans. The rest of the world has much more time off from their careers than we do, especially in Europe. This allows them more memorable family time, less stress and better mental health. We spend so much time working, even tethered to our offices through the ubiquitous Crackberry! We're a wealthy country because of it but I definitely think we are a bit limited due ti this as well, in our view of foreign people, foreign affairs and in our view of our place in the world at large. We are able to buy all the things I write about here like bags, watches, clothes and shoes from that constant productivity but at what cost?
Summer's not over. If you buy a travel case, ask yourself where are you going to go?
Garment Carrier:
This is Louis Vuitton's largest, more comprehensive garment bag. The interior is lined in canvas and has room for five coat hangers. There's two pockets on the inside that are zippered as well as a large outside zippered pocket. This bag is based on the larger of the two genuine garment carriers made by Louis Vuitton. This one gives you a little extra length and a lot more depth so you can stuff in more. The LVs are lined up properly, even on the sides, which can be trickey. Ladies, be aware that this bag is heavy and even more so when full.
View:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...418/m23418.jpg
Inside:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...18/m23418e.jpg
Garment Bag:
This bag is very light due to the minimal use of the Monogram fabric and easy to carry; most people don't realize Monogram fabric can be heavy when a lot of it is used in one product at once. I would be more apt to use this to carry certain dresses (for you guys, suits) than the behemoth above, which is why I put it in this list. In all the photos and databases I looked at, I couldn't specifically find a genuine of THIS bag. But that doesn't mean that Louis Vuitton didn't make one like it, actually. Over their long history, they've changed styles and had other people manufacture some of their products (sometimes in their own way), at least up until the late '80s and early '90s. Either way, I do think this bag is suitable and looks like something LV would make now or made in the past, if they didn't already.
View:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...A/m23432-a.jpg
Opened:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi.../m23432-ab.jpg
Sac Chasse (Weekend Bag):
If you've been searching high and low for a unique and functional weekend bag, chasse no more (chasse is French for hunt). I LOVE this bag and I'm really glad factories decided to replicate this. It's got a lot of room for more clothes than you would think and that's in part to its design. One side holds folded clothes with the elastic straps and the other has large pockets. It's sized and meant for a weekend getaway, but no longer.
This is bag is actually not in production now and turns up sometimes on the used market or prestigious consignment shops, online and off. When this bag was new, it wa priced close to $3,000; if it is used, depending on condition, it can go from $1,500 to $2,000. The older version of the genuine Sac Chasse has only three deep pockets, like a great big messenger bag, with no way to make sure clothes stay relatively wrinkle free and folded. The newer version of the Sac Chasse, the one this replica is based on, is much more functional! The last time this bag design was in full production was over a decade ago.
View:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...140/m41140.jpg
Inside:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...40/m41140e.jpg
Side:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...40/m41140b.jpg
Pockets On Other Side:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...40/m41140d.jpg
Eole 50 Rolling Case (Large Weekend Bag):
From time to time I'm sure you've said to that seemingly perfect bag in your life, " I love you, Carryall, I really do. I love everything about you from your shape to those convenient handles. I mean, you're just the perfect size to take most everywhere. Yeah . . . you're . . . just great . . . You know what? I wish you were bigger. Not too big though. I wouldn't want you to get as big as your sister, Alzer. Yeah, that would be kinda great; you'd be suitable for more than just a quick dash out. I would stop needing to be with you and another, larger bag. I mean having you with another bag at once is a fantasy come true but it's not practical sometimes. And I guess since I'm telling you this I might as well tell you that a good set wheels couldn't hurt. Since you'd be larger, you'd become less wieldy and heavier with all my stuff. And if you had wheels, I'd want you to have a telescoping handle so I could just pull you when I didn't want to fuss with your top handles. Now that I think about it: I love you. You're perfect. Now change." The genuine of this bag costs between $1,700 and $2,000 which makes this replica a steal.
View:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...2002/42002.jpg
Back:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...002/42002c.jpg
Alzer (Extended Trip Suitcase):
This is THE suitcase for any person of means. I believe this is probably as close to a Louis Vuitton trunk as you're going to get without actually buying a Louis Vuitton trunk. The status confirmed on the owner of a case like this is immediate: people will think that you have money; if that bothers you, don't buy this. But the benefits of this suitcase cannot be as easily dismissed. It's a hard-sided and subsequently structured suitcase made in the traditional, pre-war style. It will protect more delicate things you may be traveling with that a bag such as the Pegase cannot. With baggage handlers angry about their job security, the likelihood that they'll be able to damage the Faberge eggs in your suitcase during a tantrum goes down significantly. This bas was considered one of the 50 greatest suitcases by a UK newspaper and it has a $4,600 and up price that reflects its status.
I like these suitcases for many reasons but none of them are for being light. If a woman buys this suitcase, you can be assured she'll never be the one carrying it! A hard-sided suitcase like this from Louis Vuitton is constructed of wood, brass, suede, paper (yes, paper), zinc and leather. It's rare to see this suitcase in places like airport terminals because owners of this magnificent suitcase usually travel by more private means like car, rail or private plane.
The Darjeeling Limited Luggage Set:
http://www.highsnobiety.com/uploads/...ling_1.jpg.jpg
This suitcase is often customized, with the initials of the owner placed on a brass plaque and affixed somewhere on the outside, stickered or painted in some way. Louis Vuitton has designated painters of their luggage all over the world; using them will not jeopardize any warranties on the product. So go to town on making the suitcase really your own! A a good example of the level of customization of this luggage is seen above in the one-off 11-piece set made exclusively for Wes Anderson's touching dramedy film The Darjeeling Limited. This luggage was made completely of leather, embossed with animals drawn by Anderson's brother Eric and auctioned off after the film with the proceeds going to Rawal Mallinathji Foundation and UNICEF. It was on display in New York City's Louis Vuitton boutique during the auction but has not been exhibited since.
These bags are not spot on to certain genuine BUT they are luggage pieces. Louis Vuitton has luggage ready for you to buy but they also offer luggage customized to an individual's taste, limited by the skills of craftsman, the buyer's imagination and budget. The latches that keep the case closed are not what is used on the genuine case. So while the suitcases below are certainly not genuine, they can't be called out easily because Louis Vuitton will make a suitcase any way you want it, including using any type of closure you'd like. That's why these can be carried with confidence. I myself only have limited experience with these cases as my dad sold a beat up Bisten 55 to an antique shop that promptly turned it into an end table (vintage Louis makes great accent furniture). It was sold within two weeks.
View:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...01/m21201a.jpg
Inside:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...m21201d_md.jpg
Named one of the 50 best suitcases in the world (there was a LOT to choose from), the genuine has a cost to match it's status at $4,600 dollars AND UP. A matching set of genuine Alzer luggage has a cost of $25,000 to $35,000 dollars. A limited edition set of Alzer suitcases in the now famous white and black Multicolore Monogram Canvas was sold too. There are replicas of these suitcases as well but not available at any of my usual haunts.
Satellite (Extended Trip Suitcase):
I was wondering where you could get a replica of this suitcase (since you can find replicas of everything Louis Vuitton makes and doesn't make) and finally found a site that was reputable and had actually had a very-close-to-genuine version. Seeing Jason Preston in bliss lounging in pile of Satellites made me rethink my position on this bag's use. It has a size and shape that is close to that of the Alzer but it is far, far lighter and what some would subjectively deem more modern. Don't be alarmed by this replica's seeming flimsiness; the genuine bag is made similarly. For all that sleekness and contemporary flair, you have to pay Louis Vuitton $2,220.00. I would actually have included this suitcase in the "Goodlooking Guy" post but couldn't find a place online that offered a good replica and was what I would call reputable.
View:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...50/m23350a.jpg
Inside:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...50/m23350g.jpg
Damier Géant Canvas Conquérant (Medium Weekend Suitcase):
This is THE most expensive bag in this list. I know it doesn't seem like it should be but it is. I could not tell you why except that as far as close to genuine is concerned, it's ridiculous scary. Almost, they-must-make-the-genuine-bag-in-China-to-begin-with good. The Sac Chasse, Satellite above, Bosphore and Pegase are that way too but this Conquérant is out of control! The cost of this suitcase in genuine form is a whopping $3,200! Yeah, you would never know by how it looks. Say what you will about the Monogram Canvas but it at least looks expensive. Anyway, the genuine suitcase is made from many high-performance, technical fibers. Using some pretty nifty fabric thermo-compression techniques which creates a semi-rigid three-dimensional shell that is at once strong but lightweight. I actually wonder if this is not the same case sold at Louis Vuitton boutiques and eLuxury. I won't put my reputation on the line and say it is but I KNOW I can't say for sure it's not. Study the photos of both and draw your own conclusions . . .
View:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...000/m93000.jpg
Inside:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...00/m93000e.jpg
Excursion (Shoe Carrier):
Everyone knows that carrying your shoes with nothing in them or covering them, in your suitcase with your clothes is not something you should do. Why? Because you can get dirt or dust on things or cause the shoes to lose their shape. Putting shoe horns in them and placing them in the dust bags that came with them is the first thing that comes to mind to prevent this. Stuffing them with socks and covering them with plastic bags from the grocery store is clever but tacky. This bag is roomy and can even carry shoes with really thick soles like Dr. Martens.
This shoe bag is just shy of a grand at eLuxury.com. It's nice to know that the replica is WAY below this! There's just one problem. The straps attached to the genuine bag are held with golden square rings . The replica's straps seem to be attached directly to the body of the bag. In terms of strength, it sounds like a good idea but in reality, it makes an otherwise spot on bag only 98% accurate.
View:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...450/m41450.jpg
Inside:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...50/m41450b.jpg
Grimaud (Overnight Bag):
This case is the predecessor to the Greenwich now available on eLuxury.com (Louis Vuitton's site). It's one of the first few vintage cases I've seen being replicated, the Sac Chasse being one of the others. It seems factories want to cash in on all that was good, just like they do with vintage Rolexes. These bags last were made in the early 2000s. These cases have really compact dimensions that allow them to fit in a lot of places even a smaller duffel bag couldn't fit. It reminds me of a bonsai tree in that it's pruned to keep its size small but is just like a normal tree in every other way. This suitcase is the bonsai of Louis' suitcases!
View:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...160/n41160.jpg
Like the in-production genuine Greenwich or discontinued genuine Grimaud, it's designed to fit in small spaces, like metro (train) luggage racks and small spaces. The lightness of the bag itself makes it easy to move when loaded with your belongings. I've seen this bag in genuine form and this replica is spot on. Oh, and for all the Lamborghini Diablo owners (hint hint), two or three of these fit well in your front luggage compartment (plebes, it isn't called a trunk because it isn't one; it's a cereal box). This bag looks exactly like the Monogram Canvas Cruiser which is currently available in genuine form at eLuxury, although usually it is almost always sold out. It's also available in replica form but not at any retailers I use or with which i am familiar. You can Google the name and find the site that appeals to you that sells it.
Cruiser 45:
http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/eLux...ph_hero?$hero$
Monogram Canvas Trolley Bosphore (Large Weekend Suitcase):
The genuine Pegase is slightly smaller than this, much less expensive and more popular than this suitcase. I have feeling that's because as far the look goes compared to cost, the Bosphore is off-balance. The one thing the Bosphore has over the Pegase is more functionality. It has extra pockets on the outside and a zippered side compartment for things that you need to get to quickly while you're running through the airport, like C4. The Provos I spoke with say I'm not really a supporter and I need to "prove it." At least I think they were members of the IRA. They were wearing these linen maxi dresses, which I LOVED, and these great wrapped hats. I asked one of them where I could get one and ended up at some meeting. Long story short, I get a dress with an elegant surgical mask when I take what looks to be this fancy, premium Play-Doh with me on a plane. The genuine Bosphore runs about $2,300 and this spot on replica is a tenth of that.
View:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...259/m23259.jpg
Inside:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...59/m23259d.jpg
Small Garment Bag:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...59/m23259f.jpg
Taiga Pegase w/ Odessa Laptop Case (Large Weekend Suitcase):
Back in black. Basic black. If you are digging the Louis Vuitton history, groove and vibe but you HATE the Monogram Canvas, then the Taiga Leather line is just for you. Some people cannot commit to the whole Monogram Canvas thing but want an LV suitcase. I understand and respect that. Louis Vuitton has branched out beyond that fabric anyway to take care of the needs of that segments of their clients. This laptop bag and suitcase is great for the professional men and women who make their living riding the rails, going from place to place, closing the deal. It's a power luggage set. Not my cup of tea but the best choice for some of our members. Or get a Taiga for business and get a Monogram piece for pleasure. :)
View:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...3262-30832.jpg
Inside Laptop Case:
Inside Laptop Case:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...262-30832l.jpg
Evasion(ish) (Overnight Bag):
Okay. I have to explain this choice. This is NOT the Evasion. It does essentially the same thing as the genuine and replica Louis Vuitton. This is some replica designer's interpretation of the Evasion. I checked the vintage catalogues, the fashion bibles and the Louis Vuitton photo databases and I could not find this bag. If someone recognizes this as a genuine model that Louis Vuitton made, please let me know. With that said, they DO make replica of the in-production Evasion. How good it is, I don't know. If someone has one and likes it, please comment in this thread and tell us where you got it because I do not want to misrepresent it. None of the sites I normally frequent sell it. They sell this below which I actually like more than Evasion.
Genuine Evasion:
http://www.designerexposure.com/imag...08_1_large.jpg
The reason I prefer this over the Evasion is the classic shape. Louis Vuitton's soft brown Monogram Canvas suitcases and travel bags remind me of the late 1920s and early 1930s where everyone who went out in public wore crisp dresses, show stopping hats, elegant suits and shined shoes. The new Evasion, while it has the Canvas, has a very upright, boxy shape. But for the replica purists
The Evasion and the Evasion(ish) are both overnight bags but unlike the others, they carry an extra pair of shoes besides the ones on your feet. So if you need to have two or three looks and one or two of them require a certain pair of shoes, this is what you use. This bag below, while easily passing for a genuine bag, it is not without its faults. It has one off detail on it that I KNOW Louis Vuitton would never have allowed. If you look closely at the bag near the left edge of the Vachetta leather extending down from the left side strap, some of the LVs appear to be cut off. I believe Louis Vuitton would have centered them. And please be aware that some genuine bags DO have cut LVs due to how the bag is made. So don't let the cut off LV cliché confuse you as to what is genuine and what is replica.
View:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...444/m41444.jpg
Inside Upper Portion:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...m41444e_md.jpg
Inside Shoe Compartment:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...44/m41444d.jpg
Alizé 24 Heures:
This bag will only work for 24 hours. After that it will promptly get up and leave. You can can't catch it because it is far too fast, your clothes flying by you as it flaps! I usually have to selectively choose which pictures to put in these guides with most of these suitcases and bags. These, below, are the pictures of the replica I chose but these are the ONLY pictures of this suitcase they had! If you check out this genuine Alize at Malleries, you can see more photos of how the bag is divided up and constructed. The bag is the perfect size for short jaunts and fits in all kinds of places. I've seen this bag shoved into overhead compartments, strapped to the back of motorcycles in Paris, four of them bursting and gasping for air in the luggage compartment of a Smart ForFour and wedged under the front of the third row of an Expedition. It truly will go anywhere you want to take it.
View:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...393/m41393.jpg
Inside:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...93/m41393a.jpg
(These beauty cases are just some of the ones offered by RepE. I chose these because they are probably more common than the others.)
Soft Beauty Case:
I like this case but it is not as close to genuine as it could be. Have a look at this genuine. There should be a quarter of an inch of space between the top and bottom row of LVs. This little "beauty," will hold all kinds of things of like make-up, jack knife, birth control, toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, La Mer moisturizer, hand gun and perfume. It's just handy for when you carry more than the average Zip-Lock can hold. If it did not have the measurement flaw, it would be identical to the genuine case.
View:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...280/m47280.jpg
Inside:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...m47280a_md.jpg
Hard-Sided Beauty Case:
The hard genuine beauty cases sold by Louis Vuitton are VERY expensive for what they are. It's actually very nice that replicas of it are made because it's hard to justify a $3,400 case that holds a little jewelry and cosmetics. This is not the only one offered by RepE but I put this one in because a well-known member contacted me about it and he's working out how to turn this case into a watch case. By his actual calculations, it appears that it will hold eight watches very comfortably. If and when he finishes it, I hope he shares the way he made it with all of you, if he so chooses. I think this would make a magnificent, upscale watch case.
View:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...206/m21206.jpg
Inside:
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...06/m21206d.jpg
Inside (Tray Removed):
http://www.replicaestore.com/mo/medi...06/m21206e.jpg
Wish List
I have seen websites that claim to have a replica of this bag. There's at least three that I know of that claim to sell it but have no pictures of it except those released by Louis Vuitton. I would be VERY careful about buying a replica of this bag online. Until I see actual pictures of this steamer bag in replica form and put my own hands on it, I won't even believe it exists! And when and if it does materialize, I want one!
Steamer Bag:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/...428c5380_o.jpg
This was invented in 1901 as a companion piece to be kept inside the immortal Louis Vuitton steamer trunk, its intended purpose to hold laundry. The bag has remained unchanged over that 100 year period and is sometimes considered more popular than the trunk. Today, it is considered the pinnacle of of chic travel due to it's rarity and cost. This bag is not available online from Louis Vuitton and is only available at certain boutiques--to certain people. This isn't a replica or genuine travel piece you'll see everyday. There are places online that claim to sell a replica of it but I would want to see it before I'd ever buy one or recommend any of you buy one. Here's the first bag that was ever made, for Gaston-Louis Vuitton:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/...6a01b36b55.jpg
That "V" monogram was used throughout G.L. Vuitton's life on every piece of luggage he owned. It has most recently reappeared on the Louis Vuitton Cup line from last year. The designers thought the modern and nautical feeling of the monogram would work well with those pieces, which it does. If anyone knows of a site or person that can successful rep this bag well, let the Geeks know!
If you have comments or questions, feel free to leave them or contact me!
