The Roma Cinema Etoile, Rome’s oldest movie theater, had been shuttered for more than twenty years until Louis Vuitton co-opted the building for its brand new store in the heart of the Italian capital. A video released by Louis Vuitton takes the viewer on a tour of the Roma Etoile Maison, revealing a beautifully appointed space equipped with an elliptical staircase, gleaming fixtures and an in-house screening room. Architect Peter Marino explains that his primary concern was that the concept of the movie theater remain intact, while Louis Vuitton CEO Yves Carcelle lauds the store’s ability to bring “additional emotion” by presenting a bookstore, art, and cinema as part of the Louis Vuitton retail experience. Check out the video after the click.

Still a force to be reckon with in the world of art, even at the age of 82, Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama and her polka dots artworks will be arriving to a Louis Vuitton near you this Summer. Following a succession of trans-formative collaborations with artist such as Stephen Sprouse, Richard Prince and Takashi Murakami, the Parisian fashion house and its artistic director, Marc Jacobs, have tapped Yayoi Kusama as its next collaborator. The limited collection will feature Kusama’s strange landscape of oblong shapes and polka dots of various sizes on Louis Vuitton apparel, accessories, footwear, timepiece, jewelries, and leather goods. The collection will also coincide with a major retrospective of Kusama, now traveling from Paris’ Centre Pompidou to Tate London of London before ending in New York City’s Whitney Museum. via: WWD

The Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2012 Show at Fashion Week in Paris earlier this month was as much a triumph of lighting and set design as it was of luxe springtime fashion. Marc Jacobs succeeded in wowing the audience when the curtains lifted to reveal a gleaming white carousel with his models perched atop the horses. The crowd broke into spontaneous applause, the carousel began to slowly spin, and fashion journalists had a great story to write about. The flipside to that story is the daunting construction of the carousel, and the space around it. Louis Vuitton has released a fascinating time-lapse behind-the-scenes video chronicling the mammoth undertaking, which you can view following the jump.

An upcoming book by Rizzoli, the publishing house noted for its hardcover art and design tomes, examines the Louis Vuitton empire through the two figures most responsible for its place in the fashion firmament, founder Louis Vuitton and designer Marc Jacobs. Author Pamela Golbin splits the book into two parts: the first chronicles Vuitton’s ascendancy, and how he was able to transform his small artisanal company into the premier luxury trunk supplier for Parisian society’s elite in the late 1800s. These chapters are highlighted by never before seen images of his early works. The second half focuses on the Marc Jacobs era of the brand, begun in 1997 when the mercurial designer was appointed creative director. Jacobs’ imprint was solidified with a successful apparel line, as well as a series of collaborations with contemporary artists and designers, including Takashi Murakami, Richard Prince and Stephen Sprouse, that effectively altered the direction of the historic label. Publication for Louis Vuitton/Marc Jacobs is slated for March 6th, 2012.

Pivotal to a brand’s success can be found through consumers’ in-store experience. But the advent of online stores and other virtual shopping schemes have all made the physical storefront less appreciative. In bring back the sense of exuberant once felt by customers as they entered its palaces of pampered luxuries, Louis Vuitton and its parent company LVMH have formulated a 304-page tome to be publish this Fall. Named simply as Louis Vuitton – Architecture and Interiors, the book will revisit some of Louis Vuitton’s most memorable retail spaces with the provisions of never before seen sketches, blueprints, and mock-ups. The book also contain insights from Louis Vuitton’s preeminent list of architectures, from Peter Marino, Christian de Portzamparc, Jun Aoki. and beyond. Beautifully bound, each printed matter will cost around $85 US. There will be a limited edition as well, with 3 separate photographs on the cover to coincide with 3 monogrammed fabric slipcases in gold, silver, and copper, list around $130 US. All will be made available by publishing house Rizzoli in October 1st at Louis Vuitton retail locations and specialty book stores. via: WWD

Despite the “doom and gloom” expression, Kanye West is enjoying the happenings of Paris Fashion Week quite immensely. Seated next to REM front man Michael Stipe and UK songstress Lily Allen, it was a t-shirt and leather pants fare for West on the front row of Louis Vuitton Men’s Spring/Summer 2012 Show. Though there some speculated about him appearing in the anticipated Nike Air Yeezy 2, West instead showed his allegiance to the French luxury fashion house by wearing Louis Vuitton Jasper High Sneaker of his own design from the 2009 collaboration.

Canvas is a nice addition, though most would think leather when it comes to Louis Vuitton. As a follow-up to the Acapulco Monogram Stars in Canvas, LV also introduced its perforated leather counterpart to the mix. Perfected by Louis Vuitton over the centuries, each pairs followed the exact methodology of leather crafting.  The result is not just a pair of sneaker, but a work of art with the company’s famous “LV” monogram front and center.  In all-black, all-white, and 2 other unique motifs, light brown with white piping and aquamarine with white pipings, all are now for sale at select LV locations around the world and its official online store.

Louis Vuitton New York
1 East 57th Street | Map
New York, NY 10022

Louis Vuitton SoHo
116 Greene Street | Map
New York, NY 10012

Beautifully conceived, the new Acapulco Monogram Stars Canvas is the new interpretation with slight accents in vintage graphic trims. Boldly printed with stars patterns on wild colored panels of blue, light blue, yellow, and black, the concept invokes a hint of street cred while not completely distance itself from its luxury roots. With laces and Velcro ankle strap, the Louis Vuitton Acapulco Monogram Stars Canvas is now for sale at select LV locations around the world.

Louis Vuitton New York
1 East 57th Street | Map
New York, NY 10022

Louis Vuitton SoHo
116 Greene Street | Map
New York, NY 10012

Lil Wayne took a courtside seat next to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son, Christopher, and his wife, Maria Scrhiver, during Sunday night’s 2011 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles; Weezy of course had his friends Drake and Mack Maine sitting on the other side of him. The Young Money/Cash Money rapper wore a pair of all Red Beats by Dre by Monster headphones around his neck and a pair of the Louis Vuitton Acapulco sneakers on his feet. These sneakers by the French luxury brand feature a perforated leather upper on a clean White outsole. Get a better look at Wayne’s sneakers and headphones after the jump…

Vuitton has been around since 1854, and a house with over 150 years of straitlaced couture fashion can’t completely buck tradition. But once Louis Vuitton watchers saw menswear models sporting faux neck tattoos courtesy of Scott Campbell last year, it was clear there was a bit of new blood involved. Now we’ve got a look at the collection of men’s bags offered by the French couturier for the coming Spring season. As LV Men’s Studio Director Paul Helbers (working under the artistic direction of Marc Jacobs) puts it: “It’s a rhapsody of three virtual scenarios for a digital bohemian, a man who travels the world from behind his computer screen.” That’s essentially fashion-speak for a collection that spans some broad influences: in this case, the traditional, the un-apologetically athletic, and the, well, tattooed. The collection includes some LV classics: weekend bags and shoulder bags in both Utah leather and a woven monogram (a distressed finish makes it clear that this LV monogram is for the gents). This collection is notable for the outliers though: first, a bag from the Articles de Voyage collection in a distressed denim look that is new for LV. Second, what is probably the most purely athletic duffle ever seen with an (authentic) LV monogram. And third, of course, is the Scott Campbell-inspired Utah Tattoo, sporting a laser-engraved tribal tattoo design. Check out the full collection after the jump; it’s probably an interesting one for those who love LV and even those who don’t. via: ilovelv.

Pharrell Williams is musical virtuoso, entrepreneur, fashion guru, artist, furniture designer, and now “Kidult”? Though he explained that he couldn’t lay claim in creating the term during a subsequent interview, he certainly lives by it at his penthouse duplex by Miami’s beautiful South Beach. Thanks to photographer Todd Selby and his ever popular photo site, The Selby (is in your place), we caught a glimpse of Williams’ playpen. Unlike most bachelor pad, William’s apartment wasn’t dark or filled with questionable paraphernalia. Instead, the light-filled space flanked with commissioned artworks by KAWS, Takashi Murakami, Keith Haring and other rare masterpieces. Not to mention the numerous Louis Vuitton trunks stacked neatly together. Take a brisk walk on the wrap around outdoor terrace or enjoy the 270 degree view of the Atlantic Ocean, no matter how the term kidult will be define, we all want to have a bit of it now. See the rest of Pharrell’s apartment at The Selby.