L.L. Bean Canvas Tote
Monograms, once considered the ultimate stamp of blue-blooded, preppy pedigree have become a must-have once again, but with a much wider audience than the madras-wearing, Nantucket summering clan.
Now, fashion’s biggest names are giving you the chance to add your own touch to their standbys and set you and your purse apart from the rest of the pack.
L.L. Bean canvas totes have been a preppy staple since their debut in the 1960s, but this summer, the heritage brand has updated their offerings to include neons, brights and more colors than ever before. You don’t have to be a yacht club member to tote your summer beach essentials in this classic. Don’t forget sunscreen, sunglasses, trashy magazines and E.L. James’ page turner, 50 Shades of Grey. But just don’t think of these as beach-only bags. They are durable, lightweight and come in a multitude of colorways.
Available at www.llbean.com
Louis Vuitton Mon Monogram Collection
While their bags come pre-monogrammed with the brand’s signature LV pattern, few people know that Louis Vuitton can add hot stamps to just about any of their pieces. Wallets, luggage tags and even belts can get gold, silver or colored initials hot stamped or hand painted inside. But the true personalization comes via Louis Vuitton’s Mon Monogram program, which allows you to choose initials and stripes in an array of colors to add to some of their most popular styles. Select stores even offer freestanding Mon Monogram kiosks, letting you preview your creation digitally, but almost every boutique has a few samples you can see if they don’t have the digital kiosks installed.
Ladies can personalize their Neverfulls, Speedy bags and more. Of course, you can’t expect them to do it in-store. The standards upheld by the company require each and every piece to be hand painted before the canvas is cut and pieced together, taking about six to eight weeks to arrive at your doorstep. Of course, the service doesn’t come cheap (it’s Louis, after all), adding about 30% more to the price of each bag. That brings the price of a Neverfull MM from $850 up to $1,250. Amass a few pieces and you can consider it your very own limited edition collection.
For more information, visit a Louis Vuitton boutique or www.louisvuitton.com
Bottega Veneta Monogram Tote
Bottega Veneta Monogram Collection
Bottega Veneta Monogram Collection
The latest high-end brand to offer monogramming is the usually sedate Bottega Veneta, which debuted their personalization service earlier this month.
Their slogan “When your own initials are enough” seem to take a jab at competitor LV, but they’re taking a slightly different approach. The styles available for the service might look like classic bags, but they’re actually specific styles made just for the new program and, believe it or not, run a few hundred dollars below their cousins in the main Bottega lineup.
Totes, belts, wallets, small accessories and more can all be painted with your initials, giving the subtle luxe weaves that Bottega’s known for a little more color and interest. There’s a range of color and text sizes, meaning everything from your iPad sleeve to your makeup bag can bear your initials.
For more information, visit www.bottegavenetainitials.com
Goyard Striped Tote
Goyard Monograms
Goyard Assouline Trunk
Before there was Louis or Bottega, Goyard was the luxury purveyor of choice when it came to luxe travel goods and accessories. Since 1792, the Parisian house has been creating trunks and luggage adorned with their signature hand-painted chevron pattern. also The demand for their own personalization — which includes everything from letters and numbers to simple symbols and even special order-only coat of arms — pushed Goyard to add stripes and such to their steamer trunks, totes and more.
Today, the practice is still popular at Goyard, and the process is still done by hand. Even luxe book publisher Assouline can’t resist the call of the monogram. They’ve released a limited-edition trunk with 100 of their most popular titles, complete with their own stripe and branding for the cool price of $20,000. You can add a personal touch to that, too — it’s available in either black or white.
For more information on Goyard, visit www.goyard.com
C. Wonder Monogram Cheeseboard
For those who find the monogram trend just a little “too, too” we offer you one last choice: Don’t tote your initials on your arm or wheel them through an airport. Instead, pick up a C. Wonder monogrammed cheese board and spreader. It’s also a fabulous hostess gift that is — dare we say — a cut above, the usual flowers.
For more information, visit www.cwonder.com
