Plenty of brands have had a go at making 'designer luggage', but none have succeeded to anything like the extent of Louis Vuitton. The distinctive monogram print still attracts envious stares at airport carousels across the globe, and is first choice for many a travelling celeb. What's the story behind this iconic range?
'Handbag' history: Trunks and travelling cases were the company's speciality when the young Monsieur Vuitton first set up his business in 19th Century Paris. His trunks were highly innovative at the time, because earlier trunks had mainly been designed with rounded tops (the sort we now associate with 'pirate gold'), which was to promote water run-off during transit.
Louis Vuitton was one of the first designers to bring in trunks that were airtight, eliminating the need for those old-style rounded tops. This gave them the advantage of being stackable, which led to the label's subsequent success and fame. For this reason, it's easy to see why this element of the business has remained strong.
In our view: In an age of limitless choice, Louis Vuitton's luggage is still popular, partly thanks to its pedigree and partly due to its elevated status, passed on from Parisian Kings and Queens to today's Hollywood Elite. Enthusiasm for the 'boxy' look has also given a boost to Louis Vuitton luggage in recent times, with scaled-down versions of the trunks being particularly popular
Celebrity Fans include Ivana Trump (who brought an entire fleet of Louis Vuitton trunks and suitcases in to the Celebrity Big Brother House with her, Paloma Faith, who carried a mini version of the trunk as a handbag on a red carpet appearance earlier in the year, Lindsay Lohan, Courtney Cox, Alex Curran, Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson and a cast of thousands.
Get the Look: A Louis Vuitton suitcase is a serious investment, and the traditional hard-edged sort costs anything from £2080 to £4050 depending on size. Roller cases cost £1,370 and up.
