LOUIS VUITTON Vivienne Escale Giant Monogram blue pink LV floral bag charm
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Hong Kong, NT
LOUIS VUITTON Vivienne Escale Giant Monogram blue pink LV floral bag charm Reference: AAWC/A01596 Brand: Louis Vuitton Model: Vivienne Escale Collection: SS2020 Escale Material: Resi...
Louis Vuitton Monogram LV Record Keepall Bandouliere 50 Dark Green
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Indulge in luxury with the Louis Vuitton Monogram Bandouliere Keepall 50. Made with the exclusive Dark Green Monogram Canvas and trimmed with black leather, this spacious bag feature...
Louis Vuitton Keepall Bandouliere 60 Duffle Travel Bag LV Monogram Canvas
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Louis Vuitton Keepall 60 Monogram Canvas Duffle Bag – No Strap This authentic Louis Vuitton Keepall 60 is crafted from classic Monogram canvas with natural vachetta leather trim and...
Louis Vuitton Boite Vanity Trunk Train Case Lv Logo Brown Tan Monogram
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Miami, FL
- Brown monogram exterior - Leather handle - Brass colored hardware Condition: The trunk is in overall great condition there are small markings in the interior and faint scrat...
Keepall 60 Travel bag in leather with LV monogram print Louis Vuitton
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Keepall 60 Travel bag in leather with LV monogram print. Top zip closure. Brown cotton lining. Name tag in leather with extra short leather belt. No more shoulder-strap. Locker but ...
Vintage Louis Vuitton Cabas Piano 2002 Tote Monogram Canvas Louis Vuitton Tote
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Rochester, NY
Search Terms Louis Vuitton Cabas Piano, LV monogram tote, vintage Louis Vuitton bag, zip top designer tote, Cabas Piano handbag, Louis Vuitton shoulder tote, everyday luxury bag, col...
Louis Vuitton Monogram Giant Spring In The City Papillon BB Crossbody Bag
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Freehold, NJ
Louis Vuitton Monogram Giant Spring In The City Papillon BB Crossbody Bag Pre-Owned 100% Authentic Additional information: Material: Giant monogram canvas Color: Pink, purple, blue,...
Vintage Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Cabas Piano 2003 Tote Bag
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Rochester, NY
Search Terms Louis Vuitton Cabas Piano, LV monogram tote, vintage Louis Vuitton bag, zip top designer tote, Cabas Piano handbag, Louis Vuitton shoulder tote, everyday luxury bag, co...
The story behind iconic luxury brand Louis Vuitton — best known for its esteemed handbags, crossbody bags, leather goods, ready-to-wear clothing and more — is one of craft and innovation in the worlds of fashion, jewelry and furniture.
The company’s modest origins can be traced back to when its founder, Louis Vuitton (1821–92), wishing to free himself from the conventional lifestyle in his provincial French city of Anchay as well as a difficult stepmother, left in the early 1830s to make a new life in Paris. The young Vuitton was 13 at the time and would need to travel on foot to get to the capital, which was hundreds of miles away. With stops along the way to make money so that he could forge ahead, the journey took a couple of years, but reward was close at hand.
When he arrived in Paris, Vuitton made a living with his hands. He toiled as a box maker and packer for more than a decade and built relationships with royals and members of the upper class while working for the empress of France, Eugenie de Montijo. In 1854, Vuitton launched his namesake company. The craftsman opened a humble workshop on rue Neuve des Capucines and advertised his services with a small poster that read: “Securely packs the most fragile objects. Specializing in packing fashions.”
Long before his brand would become known globally for its exemplary top-handle bags and stylish totes, Vuitton produced stackable and rectangular trunks. The most common trunks of the era were round, which weren’t ideal for toting and storing. In 1858, Vuitton debuted his lightweight, handcrafted canvas trunks, which were sturdy, rugged and equipped with convenient compartments. Travel’s popularity broadened in the late 19th century, and Vuitton’s trunks could easily be packed into train cars and ships — upright trunks meant hanging wardrobe storage that would allow his clients to transport their sophisticated garments without worry. Demand increased and the company grew. When Louis Vuitton died in 1892, control of the luxury house was passed onto his only son, Georges Vuitton.
In 1914, a Louis Vuitton store opened at 70 Champs-Élysées. The largest travel-goods store in the world at the time, it became the company’s flagship.
The Louis Vuitton brand embodies all the attributes of luxury, from the craftsmanship, exclusivity and relevance to heritage. It’s only appropriate that it boasts one of the most recognizable insignias — the imaginative interlocking of letters and fleurettes — in the fashion world. The famous LV monogram was first used in 1896 as part of an initiative by Georges to prevent counterfeiting of his coveted new line of travel trunks. It’s one of the earliest examples of fashion branding.
The LV monogram would soon appear on everything from bags and various fashion accessories to alligator-skin champagne cases, from stylish apparel and earrings to teddy bears and airplane models.
On 1stDibs, the unmistakable insignia can be found on both modern and vintage Louis Vuitton shoulder bags, suitcases, original 19th-century trunks, jackets and more.
An integral part of fashion, handbags and purses have been indispensable accessories ever since we began to carry around personal items. Level of craftsmanship, style and shape matters — from coin purses in ancient Greece to early 20th-century opera bags and onward, handbags have evolved considerably over the years to meet our needs and desires, whether or not you happen to be prioritizing functionality over a flashy exterior.
Once, a single “It” handbag ruled each fashion season. No more. Today, lovers of vintage handbags are savvier and have a wider range of shopping options. Nevertheless, classics created by the likes of Louis Vuitton, Dior and Balenciaga still rule.
“It is not a fashion bag — it is a statement bag,” says Mightychic's Debra Kent of Hermès's widely beloved accessories. “When you carry an iconic Hermès bag — Birkin, Kelly, Constance — no one knows how long you have been into this culture or if you are a newbie. Your status is validated immediately.”
First released in 1997, Fendi's Baguette rose to fame along with Carrie Bradshaw, the Sex and the City character portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker. Recently, the design has seen such a resurgence in popularity that Fendi has reissued it.
They are part of design history, so owning a handbag has meaning. As New York–based fashion historian Sarah C. Byrd says, “You have made the choice to invest in this piece because you understand the value of it in the past and in the future to come.”
From a 1980s Chanel black leather quilted mini buckle bag to the rare Hermès Birkin 30cm Himalayan with diamond hardware to a range of 19th-century bags, find a rich variety of vintage and designer handbags and purses spanning numerous brands on 1stDibs — seasonal “It” designation no longer needed.
The Japanese artist is one of many creators with whom the French fashion house has partnered to impressive effect.
The late designer created an iridescent, irreverent take on the nearly century-old travel staple.
What are the telltale signs that you're holding a real Louis Vuitton and not a knockoff? We spoke with expert Diane D’Amato to find out. Of course, you don't have to worry about fakes on 1stDibs, where every seller is highly vetted.
The venerable brand has earned accolades (and gained new fans) for partnerships that meld fashion with art.
When the name of a bag is as well-known as its brand, you know it's a classic.