Alice in Vuittonland

Today, during my lunch break, I went on a mission to find the Wes Anderson Darjeeling Limited luggage by Louis Vuitton. Marc Jacobs famously designed an 11 piece luggage set for Anderson's newest movie (which I've been DYING to see, but of course it doesn't come out in France until eternity).
(lower left side of the screen)

This trunk has a pretty big role in the short film, Hotel Chevalier, which is a prequel to the Darjeeling movie.I was sure it would be on display at LV's flagship store on the Champs-Elysées in Paris.

Wrong. It's in New York. But I did have a good time looking.

The Louis Vuitton store is one of those places always surrounded by crowds of people and ...uh, mystery. Everyone knows it's too expensive for the everyday purchase, and most people (for example, me) don't go in there unless they plan to buy something.

I decided I had nothing else to do on my lunch break, so I went in and started hunting.

Of course, after about 5 minutes, it became apparent the luggage wasn't there. I decided to go upstairs and have a poke around anyways. As soon as I started climbing the staircase, leaving the Japanese tourists below, I felt much better. It seems like most people don't go upstairs unless they are looking for a watch or are in the know. Like me, now! Because upstairs is the best.

I wandered past displays of how the trunks are made, to a few showcases of the higher-end bags, to the hall of trunks and luggage. It was the merde: people were in there, actually BUYING LUGGAGE, and I slowed down and looked wistful. The bags and scarves of LV are meh to me... I can take them or leave them. But a handcrafted, carmel-colored leather steamer trunk with separate comparments for shoes and hanging clothes? I would not turn one of those down. No suh.

I eventually got mixed up in the couture part of the store, which was a tad awkward. Once again, there were actually people there, buying things. It was obvious I would not be doing any such thing. The salespeople were, as always throughout the store, super nice. But I could tell THEY knew that I KNEW that I shouldn't be there. So I slowly descended the stairs and tripped back outside, to the dirty sidewalk. Sigh.