I waited & waited for the miroir collection LV bags to go online in some form, eLUXURY or just LouisVuitton.com, but the bags are just that limited that they didn’t. Really wanting to feature them at least as history on the blog, I finally turned to Google, and I found photos from Twiggers on the Purse Blog. So thanks.

But no, the Miroir Speedy will not be on my arm. I don’t even particularly want it there. Not the fairest bags of them all, featuring metallic … PVC? It’s not only gaudy, but … cheap? at only $1380 for the Speedy I could easily save and afford (well, by now it’s too late anyway, but perhaps eBay) to buy it, but I’d rather not.

In silver or gold Monogram and offered in the Speedy, Alma GM, Papillon, Keepall and a couple accessories in non-monogram, the Miroir collection is both famous among divas and history for the great fashion house.

But why PVC? Why not metallic monogram patent leather? I’ve been thinking about that lately, and it seems like a rockin’ idea. *Shrug*

Search through eBoutique on eBay for authentic Miroir items.

So where are my beautiful princes of LV bags? Not here, but we’ll see.

Popularity: 12% [?]

That. My dear friends is the new Limited Edition Louis Vuitton tote. Made up of actual pieces of bags from current styles and maybe a few classic IT LVs, this Tribute Patchwork shoulder bag is available this month. Another picture to follow.

Its two sides feature different iconic pieces from yesterday and today, complete with straps, buckles, flaps, locks, hooks and plaques - even fur. Each bag its made up of is practically complete. (Oh, this is nearly enough to make me vomit as well.)

Loved by crazed fans, hated by most, the worst part - possibly - is its price: $42,000.

I’d rather have just three or so of the styles, plus other Vuittons for just a few thousand, and save the rest. Well, save most of the rest … some will be for Chloé, Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Balenciaga … ooh, and to pay off my AMEX.

Photo credit: Nitro:licious

Popularity: 13% [?]

#5 - Bluemarine Lace and Jewels Evening Bag

That sure is glitzy. In fact, I’d name it Cher after her Vegas-style shows: The Cher Satchel.

#4 - B. Fendi Metallic Leather Shoulder Bag

Wow, look at that thing. It is one site to behold. Love it or hate it, I think it is 100% di-vinnnne!!

#3 - Fendi gold Spy Hobo

This was one of the first Spys I recognized as a bag I liked. Before then, I actually hadn’t posted any. Bad me. Love those Spys now!

#2 - Louis Vuitton Monogram Satin Aumônière

This could easily pass for a high spot on our top 5 party bags list, as well. This bag is gorge!

#1 - Chloé Python Silverado

Silver Metallic Python skin in a fabu IT bag with detailed accents. Um, yes, it’s number 1!

Happy New Year!! See you all this week for the top 5 bags of 2006!

Popularity: 12% [?]

The #1 ugly bag in our Top 5 Ugly Bags list is … Louis Vuitton Monogram Mink “Bum” Bag.

It’s not just ugly for bright colored monogram on the wrong “canvas”, it’s not just ugly being “immoral” for using fur, but no, it’s both: it’s also ugly for defacing beautiful mink with large, colorful monogram.

I thought fur was to be appreciated as beautiful and natural from the animal? I mean this is coming from an anti-fur person, but I thought that fur-lovers liked the look of real animal fur (and feel, but it’s “just a bag”).

I wish this were fake fur, but it wouldn’t be Vuitton, it wouldn’t be luxury, and then the other half of fashionistas would think it were ugly. Le sigh!

Besides, it’s also ugly because one way to wear it is around the waist - agh!

Popularity: 9% [?]

What makes our number 1 wallet in our top wallets list so at the top is because it’s so the most IT of all wallets all year. Love the line or hate it, this collection of small accessories are big IT bags of their own.

So our #1 wallet of 2006 is Louis Vuitton’s Groom Line Monogram Wallet with Zip Pocket. It’s sizable, at 7.5″ x 4″ with a whopping 10 credit card slots and several pockets, including a zip pocket (for coins?).

I love that! Interior coin pockets are the best, because it’s so much easier to put back change with bills at the same time. And we all have all those member/discount/merch cred/gift card/debit/charge/etc etc etc cards! We need a good number of slots, like 10.

Face it, use slash utilitarianism, combined with durability are the true factors of what we need in wallets.

But then of course it’s from Louis Vuitton, with those LVs and that crazed-for new unmistakable bellhop / “groom” cartoon.

All that LV-goodness for $570 (and catch it before the next price increase in February!).

Love the little guy or hate him, the groom’s in.

And I personally hope he sticks around long enough for me to get a nicely aged one down the road on eBay!

Popularity: 7% [?]

This is post #3 of our Holiday Gifts series, part 2 was on a Banana Republic Jewelry Roll.

Adorable, fun, and to me - so appropriate is the Louis Vuitton Multicolore iPod Suffle Cover with all the basic features a young LV/music fan needs - at only $140. Of course, this holds last year’s generation of Shuffle, not the new ultra, ultra mini one.

But if she’s got that shuffle, you may find other cases to be not much cheaper - so why not?! I’d love it … if only I liked the limited capabilities of this precise mp3 model. Humph.

Popularity: 6% [?]

eLUXURY now has Louis Vuitton’s new Damier Azur line in stock, though I believe more bags are to come (or perhaps have all quickly-quickly sold out?).

Damier Azur is the Damier checkerboard coated canvas pattern, but in créme and pale blue. The bags in stock are two luggage duffles and one organizer wallet (Zippy Organizer, shown)—my favorite of the collection, the French Purse, sold out within days. What a shocker shame!

As usual, don’t trust eBay for these new LVs.

Also new for Louis Vuitton is the third price rise this year. Rises depended on former price points and newness factor of bags, and was about $20 for most styles. The Alma, for one example, went from around $880 I believe, to an even $900. Whoa!

What do you think of this news?

Popularity: 8% [?]

Finally there are leather bags for the perforated monogram Onatah collection! The bags have neutral-toned options for leather that is similar to embossed, but instead punched with tiny perforations to create the LV Monogram.

I love the Onatah Leather Pochette in aubergine. It looks like a hobo, and for a pochette, it’s large. Are you ready for a surprise? 14″ length x 8″ height x 1″ diameter. Oh yes! That and the luxe detail make it worth its $1,260 pricetag, n’est pas?

More details include an adjustable, but long, multi-ringed canvas strap with brass hardware, long leather zip-top closure pulls, and Monogram-patterned lining.

Popularity: 5% [?]

So there’s a new collection from Louis Vuitton for Fall. The “Lockit.” In Monogram, it’s classic, nice; sure, but simple. It’s not meant to be a timeless classic like many LV styles.

Yet it’s pricier than say the Alma. Humph. Perhaps they’re cashing in on the popularity of locks, not just by using them on their bags, as they do, or using them more prominently on these designs, which they don’t—but sheerly by name?

Yet when we check out the Suhali Lockit, we see something different. Instant classic. There’s more detail and a hanging key “clochette.” And the leather, oh that is of the highest quality, hand-selected goat skin with no chemical treatment. It’s a natural grain for the best balance between suppleness and durability.

The pictured Louis Vuitton Suhali Lockit GM comes in brown or “Sienne” and is 19″ x 14.3″ x 8″ large and rings loudly at $3,000 even.

Don’t worry, there’s also a Suhali Lockit PM at $2,100 (in black or white) and Monogram Lockits for under $1,000.

Shop Louis Vuitton at eLUXURY.

Popularity: 6% [?]

(Note: This post contains a little helpful information on recognizing authentic Louis Vuitton bags.)

The Louis Vuitton Speedy is a great bag. I love LV’s signature layout, it’s simply the finest with the greatest attention to quality and detail. The Speedy bags are made using uncut leather, pretty much one strip, so the back side of them have upside down LVs. I just love this so much, it’s pretty much how I would do things.

But then there’s the material. It just doesn’t hold it’s shape. It slouches no matter what. So however much I like the Speedy, I can’t carry one.

My new favorite is the Louis Vuitton Alma. I always loved it perhaps the most, for its classy, unique shape. It has a leather bottom, and so the rear has upright monogram, but the incomparable aligning and the fact that LVs are never cut off the side measure up to standard.

Anyway, it’s mostly about that sophisticated, classic shape. When I buy a Louis Vuitton, it will be an Alma. (Just a bit too bad the Alma’s a few hundred more dollars than the Speedy, at $880.) You can buy the authorized Alma at eLUXURY. Do you think I should save up, or perhaps research further and go for used and a little discount on eBay? I might even get one at the boutique, I imagine there would be no better feeling when buying a Louis. Yes, in a couple years time, for sure, although I hear LV’s pricing always rises. Well, my professional writing income will probably be raised quite a bit, so I think it will be less cash to me! Most of you, maybe act now on this forever classic bag.

Popularity: 6% [?]