Louis Vuitton Stephen Sprouse Graffiti Launch Party

Louis Vuitton paid tribute to the late graffiti artist Stephen Sprouse with a splashy launch and afterparty at NYC January 8, 2009. Marc Jacobs, who has used Sprouse's designs for Louis Vuitton in the past, has created a limited-edition collection inspired by their initial collaboration, due in stores on 15 January. The event, held at the Louis Vuitton Soho store in New York, was attended by the kind of hip mix only Jacobs can pull: guests included Agyness Deyn, Donna Karan, and trendy singer Leigh Lezark, as well as Debbie Harry, who put on a show at the afterparty. True to the artist's aesthetic, the shop front was decorated with a huge Louis Vuitton graffiti logo, while inside the walls and ceilings were covered with Sprouse's scrawl in neon colours against a black background. Jacobs, who cancelled his famous annual Halloween party last near, seemed to be back in the party sprirt, posing with boyfriend Lorenzo Martone for photographers.

Now Louis Vuitton is not the first name that springs to mind when you mention the words ‘urban' and ‘skateboarder', but they've gone all downtown on us to launch a new collection in tribute to the late graffiti artist and fashion designer, Stephen Sprouse. The façade of the boutique store in New York's SoHo got a graffiti artists' once-over in neon shades, accompanied by a six foot light installation of the Sprouse rose motif. All this acted as a backdrop for cocktails and canapés to launch the Louis Vuitton collection of graffiti inspired printed T-shirts and accessories. A designer wearing their heart on their hoody? Whatever next?!

Image: handbag.com

Louis Vuitton Stephen Sprouse Tribute Collection: Monogram Graffiti Neverfull GM

The Popular Classic Neverfull covered entirely with LOUIS VUITTON PARIS in fluorescent neon coloured graffiti letters, making the classic into a hip and funky tote for the young and young at heart.

Graffiti Neverfull features golden brass hardware that looks impeccable in contrast to the bag's natural cowhide trimmings, handles, and side straps. The interior lining comes in pink textile with small graffiti print which really makes a perfect statement even if its in the inside. Neverfull also has on inside zippered pocket with a D-ring for attaching a purse or a key holder. It's capacity can be adjusted thanks to its leather side straps.The bag measures 15.7" x 13" x 7.9" and comes in three colors: Fuschia, Green and Orange.

I always thought Neverfull is a very nice, useful & practical bag however due to the dangling Leather drawstring ties on each side, i never got one as it can't be carry off as an Unisex bag. GM is the perfect size for tote bag, personally i love big bag.

Image: Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton Stephen Sprouse Tribute Collection: Graffiti Keepall 50

Stephen Sprouse collaborated with Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton's Spring/Summer 2001 show wherein the original Graffiti pieces debuted.

Iconic Louis Vuitton Keepall, a staple piece of luggage that dates back to the 1930s has again been reinterpreted in fluorescent Monogram Graffiti canvas as a tribute to American artist Stephen Sprouse.

The Tribute Collection's Graffiti Keepall comes in bright Day-Glo colors giving the classy duffle a kick of street chic. Keepall offers a wide opening that makes it particularly user friendly as it is easy to put stuff in and out. The bag features natural cowhide trimmings and rounded handles accentuated by golden brass hardware, it has a double zip closure, can be carried by hand and features a removable leather luggage tag that can be hotstamped at any Louis Vuitton stores that offers this service.

Monogram Graffiti Keepall 50 measures 19.7" x 11.4" x 8.6". It comes in three glow-in-the-dark colors: Fuchsia, Orange, and Green.

These Keepalls look fabulous, my pick would probably be Orange or Green, Fuschia is too Pinky for my taste.

Image: Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton Stephen Sprouse Tribute Collection: Graffiti & Roses

CITY BAGS
Monogram Graffiti Speedy 30
Monogram Graffiti Neverfull GM

LUGGAGE
Monogram Graffiti Keepall 50

WALLETS & SMALL LEATHER GOODS
Monogram Graffiti Zippy Wallet
Monogram Graffiti Zippy Coin Purse

FANCY JEWELRY
'LOUIS' Graffiti Bracelet
'VUITTON' Graffiti Bracelet
Graffiti Brooch

TIES
Graffiti Tie

SCARVES
Monogram Graffiti Bandana (Set of 3)

KEY RINGS
Graffiti Bag Charm

PHONE ACCESSORY
Graffiti Phone Accessory

OTHER TEXTILES
Monogram Graffiti Sarong
Graffiti Gym Set
Graffiti Beach Towel

SUNGLASSES
Graffiti Sunglasses

SHOES
Graffiti Sling-back Pump in Patent Calf Leather
Graffiti Low-heel Pump in Patent Calf Leather
Graffiti Ballerina in Patent Calf Leather
Graffiti Sneaker Boot in Monogram Canvas and Leather Patchwork

CITY BAGS
Monogram Roses Speedy 30
Monogram Roses Neverfull MM
Monogram Vernis Roses Alma MM

LUGGAGE
Monogram Roses Keepall 50

CLUTCHES & POUCHES
Monogram Roses Pochette Accessoires

WALLETS & SMALL LEATHER GOODS
Monogram Roses Zippy Wallet
Monogram Vernis Roses Porte-Monnaie Chapeau

SCARVES
Monogram Roses Scarf
Roses Stole

SHOES
Rose Pump in Glazed Calf Leather
Rose Ballerina in Glazed Calf Leather
Rose Pump in Suede Goat Leather
Rose Low-heel Pump in Suede Goat Leather
Rose Ballerina in Suede Goat Leather

BOOK
The Stephen Sprouse Book

I am not sure if the Complete Stephen Sprouse Tribute Collection will be available in Singapore Louis Vuitton Stores after the Worldwide Launch Date : 15th January 2009. Part of the collection is already available at our local Louis Vuitton Stores, go check them out if you are interested.

Image: Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton Stephen Sprouse: Tribute Collection

Louis Vuitton's 2009 Stephen Sprouse Tribute Collection consisting of city bags, luggage, wallets and small leather goods, accessories, shoes and more that features the signature Graffiti that was created by Stephen Sprouse back in 2001 and reinterpreted by Marc Jacobs in this year's tribute collection in Day-Glo paint together with the Rose Motif created by Stephen Sprouse and Marc Jacobs back in 2001.

Like a greatest hits album, the Stephen Sprouse for Louis Vuitton collection is back, arriving in stores Friday, nine years after the artist's original Monogram Graffiti purses became ironic icons by "defacing" the Louis Vuitton logo for the first time.Only now, in addition to using graffiti, Louis Vuitton creative director Marc Jacobs updated the look by splashing Sprouse's roses on monogram wallets, handbags and scarves to spectacular effect. The collection (US$175 to US$2,555) is a joy to look at in these dark times, a 1980s punk Pop Art explosion of Day-Glo pink, green and orange that's a happy homage to Sprouse, who died of heart failure in 2004, after a closely guarded diagnosis of lung cancer a year before. He was 50.

Sprouse first started playing with roses in the 1970s, when he used a Xerox copier to enlarge and distort images of the flowers to incorporate into his designs. For this collection, timed to Thursday's opening of a Sprouse retrospective at New York's Deitch Gallery and the release of a Sprouse Rizzoli book on Feb. 1, Jacobs graffiti-tagged T-shirts, leggings, jeans and the lining of a classic raincoat, and printed digitized roses on knit mini-dresses. "I did my best, in a very first degree way, to do what I think Stephen would have done," Jacobs said in a statement.On the accessories side, glow-in-the-dark, graffiti-tagged high tops with multiple Velcro straps and mask-style sunglasses seem tailor-made for Kanye West. Pumps and ballerina flats embellished with outsized roses have a sweet, streetwear vibe. The rose motif also appears on the classic LV Monogram Keepall, Speedy and Neverfull handbags and coin purses.Sprouse started out working for Halston and dressing Debbie Harry for stage appearances. In 1983, he debuted his own clothing collection, showing graffiti prints and Day-Glo colors on the runway. Although commercial success eluded him for most of his career, Sprouse's work helped merge pop culture's uptown and downtown sensibilities, paving the way for fashion's love affair with contemporary art, which culminated in everything from Chanel's Mobile Art Project to Dolce & Gabbana's splatter-painted ball gowns.

Sprouse first collaborated with Louis Vuitton in 2000 at the invitation of Jacobs, who got the idea when he saw a monogrammed trunk coated with a layer of black paint at actress-singer Charlotte Gainsbourg's Paris apartment. The collection marked the beginning of a series of Vuitton designs featuring the work of such artists as Takashi Murakami and Richard Prince.And judging by the success of those limited edition collections, you won't want to let the graffiti dry on this one.

Part Excerpts Taken From: LA Times

Image: Louis Vuitton

Fancy A US$2.5 Million Diamond Studded iPhones?

Austrian designer and jeweller Peter Aloisson has rolled out the $176,400 Princess Plus iPhone and now its turn for the new Apple iPhone 3G “Kings Button” that is constructed of 18 carat yellow gold, white gold and rose gold.

The white gold line is encrusted with a total of 138 brilliant cut diamonds of the best quality. But the most prominent feature of this one-of-a-kind phone is its home button that features a rare 6.6 carat diamond.

This stunning diamond-encrusted iPhone comes for a whopping €1,790,000 about US $2.5 Million, For the price, it steals the crown of the World’s most expensive & luxurious iPhone.

Image: Peter Aloisson

Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene Brooklyn

This Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene Brooklyn is available in 3 sizes, GM, MM & PM.

This city bag or messenger bag, Brooklyn GM in Damier Ebene Canvas, with LV Inventor's Plate detail, very spacious has a magnetic closure for easy access.

Brooklyn MM is ideal for A4 documents, is slim and body friendly with a practical magnetic closure.

The smallest Brooklyn bag in PM, reflects the urban spirit of New York. Its slim form, pockets and magnetic closure make it practical to use.

GM Size: 15.7" x 11" x 4.3"
MM Size: 13.4" x 10.6" x 3.5"
PM Size: 8.6" x 9.8" x 2.4"

- Damier canvas, textile lining and leather trimmings

- Brass pieces with brown finish

- Magnetic closure

- One inside zipped pocket

- One zipped pocket on the back

- Carried on the shoulder or across the body

- Adjustable shoulder strap

This messenger bag is very street-chic, masculine & versatile, a must for city boy on the go. My pick would definitely be MM or PM. GM is more suitable for work or school.

Image :Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton Monogram Waterproof Canvas Keepall 55

Once closed, this Keepall becomes totally waterproof even when completely submerged. An exact replica of the Keepall 55, it features all its attributes: spacious and supple.

Size: 21.6" x 12.2" x 9.4"

- Monogram canvas, polyamide and polyurethane

- Brass and zamak pieces

- Waterproof and airtight zippered closure

- Rounded handles with attachment

- Removable adjustable strap

- Removable address label

- Louis Vuitton Inventeur plate on the outside

Sean Connery as the new face on the Louis Vuitton Ad to support the Climate Project where he pose with The Waterproof Keepall. He is definitely a "Hot Seller" since this bag is already Out Of Stock Online. I wonder if Singapore Louis Vuitton Store will get any in anytime soon.

I just got back from Seoul, went to Louis Vuitton Store at Dong Wha Duty Free Store, did'nt see this bag there, I wanted to get Damier Graphite Brazza Wallet there but SA told me all Damier Graphite Collection small leather goods are out of stock.

Image :Louis Vuitton