LOUIS VUITTON

Revamped, re-launched and ready to rake in the cash... Louis Vuitton's flagship store on the Champs re-opened in October 2005 to major fanfare. Contemporary artists Olafur Eliasson and Vanessa Beecroft were roped in to redesigning the head-spinning interior. Enter Louis Vuitton world at your peril. More than a few Tokyo-ites have fainted upon crossing the heavily guarded mantel. Monogram yourself to within an inch of your life. The snooty staff will give you the once-over before deigning you worthy of attention. And have your passport ready – Asian LV fans have a two item purchase, max... (It’s common to be offered cash on the street outside to pick up extra items). Not a place to pop into in one’s lunch hour, the store is excruciatingly time-consuming if you actually want to buy something, but fun if you want to gawp at the car-crash LV phenomenon.
01.53.57.52.00.
101 av des Champs Elysées, plus branches. 8th. M°George V.
www.vuitton.com/