Louis Vuitton - Celebrity Appeal

The most successful celebrity-brand alliances match a star whose image is an organic fit with that of a brand, experts say. In the consumer's mind the two become all but interchangeable. Uma Thurman is sophisticated yet unpredictable, the same image Louis Vuitton has cultivated. For a few years Thurman remained the face of LV. That has continued with the close relationship with company and a variety of famous faces.

Other models and actresses who have lent their name to the Louis Vuitton brand include Jennifer Lopez, Scarlett Johansson, Chloe Sevigny, Christina Ricci, and more recently, models Gisele Bundchen and Naomi Campbell. All have appeared in ads and commercials for the line.

The line also has it fair share of celebrity adherents who proudly display their LV logos ---celebrity LV fans include Lindsay Lohan, Jessica and Ashley Simpson, Paris and Nikki Hilton, Nicole Richie, Angeline Jolie, Anna Kournikova, Pamela Anderson and Carmen Electra.

There's only one thing more fashionable than a Louis Vuitton purse — and that's a Louis Vuitton purse with a dog sticking out of it.

Inspired by Paris Hilton's Tinkerbell and Reese Witherspoon's Chihuahua in the "Legally Blonde" movies, trend-setters like Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson are scampering to the pet store to buy toy dogs and fashionable carriers to tote them in.

Besides Hilton, other celeb- toy dog pairings include Adrien Brody and his Chihuahua, Tori Spelling and her pug, Jessica Simpson and her new malti-poo, Britney and her Maltese and P. Diddy and his Maltese.

Teacup dogs, are typically 3-4 pounds and under and the mini mutts start at about $1,500, the smaller the pricier.

And with the increased demand for little dogs has come an increased demand for stylish totes to carry them in.

While Paris and Reese have made it cool to dress pooches in sweaters and designer collars the really hot items among fashionistas are dog carriers that look like handbags. And Louis Vuitton is leading the way with its signature line.

How to spot a Fake Louis Vuitton

So how do you know you have a fake?

If you bought it on Ebay for $149, it’s a fake.
You pay for real Louis Vuitton. There’s a reason Jessica Simpson owns LV bags and Marge Simpson does not.

It looks shoddy.
Look at the quality. Cheap leather and poor stitching are sure signs of a fake. You are paying for craftsmanship -- Louis Vuitton products are hand made and it shows. You’ll never see shoddy workmanship on a legitimate bag.

It says Made in Taiwan in the inside.
Don't overlook the smaller features like zips, handles, buckles and other trimmings which often give a seemingly good knock-off away. Genuine Louis Vuitton leather goods say “Louis Vuitton Paris, Made In France.”

It came from a stand on the corner of Canal and Orchard?
Knockoff designer goods are readily available on the street in such areas such as Los Angeles' Santee Street and New York's Canal and Orchard Streets.

There are plenty of websites selling dodgy merchandise that is highly priced.
So, to protect yourself you need to do some research. Plenty of fashion sites like LV’s own site www.louisvuitton.com will show you the styles and details of authentic merchandise clearly.

Fakes are getting better and better all the time so the only real way of knowing you are getting the genuine article is to go to an authorized dealer such as a Macy’s or Bloomingdale’s, or better yet go to a Louis Vuitton store if you are near one.