A Collector's State of Mind

Stephen Sprouse spray-painted graffiti across the Louis Vuitton monogram for the house in 2001, at the invitation of Marc Jacobs. The collaboration was revived in 2009 with roses, and both versions appear here.

 

Among the eight in this grid, I would look first at the Stephen Sprouse x Louis Vuitton Monogram Roses Zippy, the Stephen Sprouse x Louis Vuitton Beige Monogram Graffiti and the Alaïa x Louis Vuitton Monogram Leopard Alma.

 

The bright neon on the dark canvas is the thing to look for. I would pick a Keepall or a smaller bag you can carry daily. See The Louis Vuitton Collector's Club for the wider story.

Takashi Murakami's Multicolore monogram launched in 2003 with thirty-three colors on white or black canvas. Among the eight in this grid, I would look first at the Takashi Murakami x Louis Vuitton White Monogram, the Takashi Murakami x Louis Vuitton White Monogram and the Takashi Murakami x Louis Vuitton White Monogram.

 

The earliest pieces are the white and black Multicolore bags below. They are worth seeking out in the original colorways. The Art of Collecting Color looks at how these prints play with color.

Chanel's Métiers d'Art collections celebrate the specialist ateliers the house owns, and each edition is staged in a different city. The bags from Paris-Salzburg, Paris-Egypt and Paris-Dakar are made to match that setting.

 

Among the eight in this grid, I would look first at the Chanel Paris-Egypt Blue Denim & Shearling Hieroglyph Flap Maxi, the Chanel Black Lambskin Paris-Londres Door Latch Flap Bag and the Chanel White Lambskin Brasserie Gabrielle Plate Clutch.

 

They are not hard to read once you know the name of the show. I would pick the one that matches a place you love.

Collaborations and old scarf designs are the quiet corner of collecting. Among the eight in this grid, I would look first at the Yayoi Kusama x Louis Vuitton Yellow Vernis Monogram Zippy, the Yayoi Kusama x Louis Vuitton Taurillon Red Infinity Dots and the Hermès Red & Multicolor 'Brides de Gala' Silk Scarf 90.

 

These pieces are as much about the artist as the house.

Start with the one piece that connects to something you already love. Collectors I know begin with a single print or a single artist and build outward.

 

Start with the one piece that connects to something you already love. Collectors I know begin with a single print or a single artist and build outward from there. Read the listing, learn the season and carry it. The best collections are the ones that get worn. For more, try The Runway Archive and The One-of-a-Kind Edit.