High Fashion Comes to Los Angeles

Actually there are currently 24 Louis Vuitton stores in California.

The “Louis Vuitton Series 2 — Past, Present and Future” exhibition is in Los Angeles from Feb. 6-22. The event showcases a “untraditional interpretation” of Louis Vuitton‘s spring 2015 womenswear collection, according to WWD. The exhibition is in a reconditioned building in what is called the new gallery center of Hollywood. There was no cost to see the exhibit. So my wife and I drove down to see the event. We parked on Fountain Avenue just a few blocks south of Sunset Boulevard. It was just two short blocks to the display.

We found what I call the reasoning behind fashion. It’ all about illusion. Isn’t that what makeup, and apparel, and how you walk and talk are really all about? We entered into a dark hall that opened into a mirrored hall that reminded me of a “fun house.” there were no distortion mirrors but the walls were covered with mirrors from floor to ceiling. I could not tell whether I was walking into a mirror or down the hall. Then a short well light corridor lead to a second mirrored hall. The mirrors not only display my likeness but also displayed models on a runway. Beyond this startling part of the exhibit were room showing how their goods are made, a sample backstage room, and a display of their finest shoes, purses(bags), and jewelry.

Backstage Room

More Illusion

Kate Upton on Vogue Italia November 2012: Seductive

OK ladies this is my blog. I get to post what I want. I am getting tired of politics. I am looking forward to Tuesday November 6 so that we can focus on other things. One thing to focus on is pretty models. This is posted under Happiness and Good Mood because seeing a pretty girl do a modeling of clothes makes me happy.

Kate Upton photographed by Steven Meisel – Video by Gordon Von Steiner
Flip through the complete Cover Story on http://www.vogue.it: http://bit.ly/UqKkA1

Shopping in London or Paris – It’s Really the Mall of America

We just visited London and Paris in the last week of August. To our surprise many of the stores are the same brands we see at our local indoor upscale malls. What a disappointment!

Steven Erlanger wrote about this very same disappointment in his September 14, 2012 piece in the N.Y. Times. His article titled “The Champs-Élysées, a Mall of America” points out that you can see the same old stores you saw back home on this boulevard that was supposed to be “the most beautiful avenue in the world.” The same stores are also seen on Oxford Street and elsewhere in London.

You know – the Gap, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Abercrombie & Fitch, H&M, and Tiffany & Company. The only stores missing were Macy’s and Neiman Marcus.

8-30 #34 Champ Elysee — Champ Elysee next to McDonald’s

Mr. Erlanger’s article included pictures of street vendors selling junk from sidewalk blankets outside McDonald’s. That is an accurate depiction. The above photo was taken by me on August 30, 2012.

There is a 15 minute wait for food service in McDonald’s and that busy store is short on available tables. A 50 something French woman standing in front of me said she loves McDonald’s.

Actually the variety of unique retailers was more interesting in Toronto’s Eaton Centre.

Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton – LVMH

LVMH is a French multinational luxury goods conglomerate headquartered in Paris. Unknown to most people this giant company is the owner of many well known brands throughout the world. The company came to my attention after an article about Hermes, a competitor, appeared in Businessweek recently.

Hoover’s Company Profiles says “LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton is the world’s largest luxury goods company, with brands that are bywords for the good life and everything showy.”
Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/lvmh-mo-t-hennessy-louis-vuitton-sa#ixzz1v3LJCxUc

The company operates six segments: fashion and leather goods, its largest and oldest; watches and jewelry; wines and spirits; perfumes & cosmetics; selective retailing (including Sephora and airport duty-free retailer DFS); and other (including publishing). Higher-profile brands include Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Givenchy, Tag Heuer, Hennessy, Moet & Chandon, Glenmorangie, and Benefit.

From their own web site the range of products includes

Wines include

Champagne Moët & Chandon
Dom Pérignon
A Total of 22 brands

Fashion and Leather Goods include

Louis Vuitton
Givenchy
A Total of 12 brands

Perfumes and Cosmetics include

Christian Dior
A Total of 11 brands

Watches and Jewelry include

Bulgari
De Beers Diamond Jewellers
A Total of 8 brands

Selective Retailing include

DFS
Sephora
A Total of 5 brands

Listed on an American stock exchange. The company has a P/E ratio of 19.4 and last year’s sales of over $23 Billion.

It proves there are lots of very wealthy people in this world.