friday reveal: shooting the messenger

Do you remember this?

The Louis Vuitton Mini Lin Initiales Tanger Sac Plat in ebony from the Spring/Summer 2005 men’s collection.

So maybe you remember this too?

Louis Vuitton Mini Lin Initiales Amman messenger on the runway.

The Amman was one of the four Mini Lin Initiales bags that was launched in Spring/Summer 2005 (the other three being the Keepall, the Isfahan travel bag and the Tanger sac plat pictured above) for men. It was produced in two colorways – camel and ebony. And as one of the show bags, I heard/read the Amman is extremely limited. So when I found one for sale online, moreso it’s from the same previous owner of my Tanger Sac Plat, the collector in me had to get it.

Presenting my Louis Vuitton Mini Lin Initiales Amman messenger bag in ebony!

Crafted out of the durable cotton-linen Mini Lin fabric, the Amman has three compartments reinforced with calfskin leather. The compartments are separate from each other so when your bag is full, it looks like an accordion for lack of better description. Haha! The brass hardware is similar to that found in my Tanger. The adjustable shoulder strap is made from natural fiber rope, with a leather shoulder pad. As in the other Initiales bags, the prominent feature of the Amman is the screen printed initials L.V. in rosso corsa on top of two screen printed race stripes. Makes you wanna take a ride out to Jordan.

But Jordan is too far so intead, I took it out on a spin when I went to middle Norway last weekend on an emergency trip. Here in front of the royal residence in Trondheim. It’s very practical for days when you want a hands-free bag. I think I’ll be using this bag more this spring and the coming summer.

I LVoe! =)

the eagle has landed

From a land not so far away this parcel came. I can’t believe it was just sitting in the post office since February 18, and I didn’t even get any notice. Boo! But all’s well now, I’ve collected the box this afternoon and have used the bag while doing my grocery. Yes, it’s a bag. =)

I’ll do a proper reveal in the weekend as I need plenty of daylight to take photos. But look closely and you might just find a clue to what’s hiding inside. Ssssshh… =)

saturday morning shopping

I was up unusually early today, given it’s a Saturday, but Knut had his course orientation day and I went with him to the university. On the way back on the subway, I got off at the Parliament station and headed to the Louis Vuitton store to check out the new window displays (more on that later).

Next door is the flagship store of Moods of Norway and they were having their January sale! If you remember, I’ve written about the brand in the Dec-Jan issue of Garage Magazine. Anyway, I spotted the hooded sweater I like from this season, and guess what? It’s at 50% off! Best things come to those who wait :-p

I love the colors on this hood and the details are charming – the tractor zipper pull, the rubberized Cocktail Travels chest patch, and the prints of parcel stamps across the upper back. Here’s the Herman Moods Paravion hood in City Cox Stripe.

The store’s dressing rooms are designed as outdoor toilets usually found in the (Norwegian) countryside. Instead of a hole that goes right through to the ground, a mirror is installed. To check your booty? LOL.

canarian shopping loot

While I sort through over 500 photos from Gran Canaria and pick which ones to blog, I’ll start off with some quick shopping summary of sorts. I wasn’t expecting much on the shopping front while I was on this holiday and since our side of the island didn’t have much to offer apart from the customary supermarket and a solitary souvenir shop, we took our money to the capital Las Palmas and the neighboring (not to mention picturesque) marina community of Puerto de Mogan.

In Las Palmas, the only upper echelon brand I went into was Loewe, where I left empty handed. Walking along the main shopping avenue of Calle Triana, I spotted high street brand Massimo Dutti where I picked up a pair of leather gloves with wool lining and a gingham shirt for work. These items were on sale and I paid less than 50 euros for both. Joy!

We were in Puerto de Mogan one day and feeling the summer vibrations in the air (in January, no less!), I stepped into the Lacoste store and got myself two of its classic short sleeve pique polos in delightfully vibrant colors – Goji Berry Pink and Chlorophyll. Since I’m now back in Oslo, I would have to wait until our summer days are here until I could use these. In five months time. Boo!

Shopping loots make great souvenirs, non?

birthday LV reveal

Following tradition, I got myself a little Louis Vuitton present as I turned 28 yesterday and my self-imposed LV ban has finally come to an end. If you would remember, I got the Damier Graphite Ieoh last year.

This time around, I got this.

What goes hiding inside that brown bag?

A brown square box comes out and look, a drawstring dust pouch!

Tadaa! It’s the LV Initiales Monogram Belt, which features a shiny, silvery LV buckle!

But wait, did I tell you it’s reversible too? Monogram canvas on one side, smooth black calf leather on the other!

Following the same codes as the Monogram Macassar from F/W 09, the LV Initiales Reversible Monogram Belt can be used for work and play. The Monogram canvas would look good on jeans, while the reversed side suits better for business. The easy pop-and-snap button on the buckle allows for easy transition from formal to casual. How’s that for utility and duality?

To borrow a quote from a fellow blogger – happy happy, joy joy! ;-)