An Inside Look at Louis Vuitton Savoir-Faire

As Fashion Week kicked off in Europe and on the East Coast, luxury house Louis Vuitton brought a little couture to the West Coast with their Savoir-Fair exhibit in Los Angeles. Set up on three soundstages at Goya Studios, the exhibit offers an immersive experience that showcases the careful craftsmanship that the fashion house was built on. The exhibit is open by invitation only, and my Louis Vuitton sales associate reached out to see if I would be able to attend. Naturally, my first question was as to what exactly Savoir-Faire is. As it turns out, Savoir-Faire translated directly means "knowing how to do" and is a French expression meaning something along the lines of knowing what to do and when to do it - a social grace, if you will.

Social grace aside, I was intrigued as to what Louis Vuitton had in store. I made an appointment, and my sales associate made the trek from Orange County to West Hollywood to accompany me at the exhibit. There are three distinctive themes on the separate soundstages - a vintage LV trunk workshop, a Parisian apartment, and a California beach scene.

The workshop scene showcases Louis Vuitton's iconic hard-sided trunks and cases, and experts are on hand to demonstrate the handcrafted details. From a charming trunk filled with picnic necessities to a shoe locker or a watch display, each trunk is fully customizable, inside and out, and is created as a one-of-a-kind piece. The most basic of these trunks in their signature monogram will set you back $44k, while more custom pieces will see higher price points. A custom shoe trunk or a watch display will take over a year for delivery and will set you back well over $200k depending on modifications. Other custom pieces such as tennis racket cases, skateboard cases, and ping pong tables are also available.

The next space is a Parisian apartment filled with haute couture gowns and jewelry. Gowns worn by Hollywood stars on the red carpet are on display, and the furniture is chic as can be from the Louis Vuitton x Fornasetti collection. Much like the hard-sided trunks, personalized experiences are also offered up here. A custom couture gown is accompanied with a fitting in Paris, and a personalized fragrance offers the opportunity for a full, immersion experience in the south of France.

The final set, a California beach escape, set the stage for the house's Objets Nomades furniture and décor lines. From tables and chairs to planters and lamps, you wll find only the chicest decor, with a playful and colorful twist. This last area also displayed higher-end Louis Vuitton handbags that are not readily available in boutiques. Most handbags on display were from the most coveted Capuchines line and featured many (responsibly sourced) exotic leathers and limited edition items including pieces only available for order through Savoir-Faire. Experts were also on hand to demonstrate the level of craftsmanship going into each handbag, answer any questions, and take special orders.

More of an art exhibit than a shopping trip, Louis Vuitton's Savoir-Faire really provides an immersive experience and establishes itself as a lifestyle brand - not just a handbag line. From gowns and jewelry to furniture and trunks, Louis Vuitton offers all you need for an impossibly chic lifestyle, all built on a foundation of history and craftsmanship.