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What do you think of when you hear the name Louis Vuitton? The label’s cult-favorite Neverfull tote bag — blending chicness with functionality? The latest installation of its Takashi Murakami collaboration? Or the founder’s original luggage trunks, harking back to the long-lost era of travel by steamship? Whatever associations you have with the founded-in-1854 French brand, everyone can agree on one thing: Louis Vuitton is one of the most iconic Maisons of our time, an institution known and beloved the world over.

To celebrate its rich, 170-plus-year legacy, a new title was just added to Assouline’s The Legends Collection: made for arts-and-culture aficionados with refined tastes. Meet “From Louis to Vuitton,” a visual-rich narrative of all things Louis Vuitton written by French-Swiss journalist Arthur Dreyfus. The best part? It can be read in the order of your choosing, perhaps as a subtle nod to Louis Vuitton’s emphasis on tailored-to-you experiences.

The fashion coffee table book‘s 406 pages take readers on a journey, starting at the time when Louis Vuitton left his hometown of Jura, France and ventured to Paris, becoming a trunk maker’s apprentice. He quickly made a name for himself in the industry — developing a roster of bourgeoisie clients the likes of Empress Eugenie, the wife of France’s last monarch.

“From the outset, his inventions were met success,” Dreyfus writes in one of the book‘s early chapters. “Farewell to the rounded-top trunks, and hello to flat-top trunks which could be… abracadabra… stacked onto one another!”

“From Louis to Vuitton” aptly captures milestones from Vuitton’s first dedicated workshop in the Paris suburb of Asnières to his eponymous brand’s eventual expansion across categories such as men’s and women’s fashion, watches, fragrances, and beyond. Because artistic directors are crucial to the flourishing of any fashion house, Dreyfus’ latest also devotes space to highlighting the contributions of Louis Vuitton’s most fearless leaders — who were able to propel the label into the present day while keeping a firm grasp on its inimitable legacy.

Considering the fact that Louis Vuitton got his start in the luggage and travel business, the Assouline new arrival also sheds light on history’s most important modes of transportation and how the man (along with his heirs) was able to leverage their evolution. Sports fans will also be delighted to find out that the book features Louis Vuitton’s most important athletic partnerships, including those with F1 and, more recently, Real Madrid.

Like all bestsellers in Assouline’s The Legends Collection, “From Louis to Vuitton” is housed in a slipcase that boasts a very special (and intentional) quirk: It’s designed to be slimmer than the book, which is “intended to convey the energy of the title and it’s enthusiasm to meet the reader,” per the publisher.

Assouline recommends treating your tome with the utmost care, just like you would a Louis Vuitton Petit Palais top-handle designer handbag: keeping it out of direct sunlight, dusting the cover and page edges regularly, as well as making sure the paper and binding stay away from humidity. Another way to ensure your purchase remains dust-free? By reading it regularly.

Indeed, this is a coffee table book that’s meant to be savored and not just gazed at. And should you be interested in making it a holiday present, Assouline offers signature gift wrapping services (fancy wax seal and all) at an extra cost.

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Meet the Author

Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, Cosmopolitan, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on new fashion book releases available to buy or pre-order.