My Shopping Conquest #25

Louis Vuitton Mini Lin Key And Change Holder
Reveal from 'Shopping Radar On Alert!'

Yes, sniper mission a success...bag contents of Louis Vuitton shopping bag uncovered!:-) It's the tiny, teeny, weeny, mini...Louis Vuitton Mini Lin Key And Change Holder!

I was going about the 'maiden' use of my Monogramouflage Treillis Bag on Saturday when I find it troublesome to continuously unzip, dig into the bag to retrieve my iPod nano for volume or songs adjustment. There are no exterior pockets for the Treillis, so this does get tiresome over time. I do not want to leave the zip closure constantly open as I am weary of my contents falling out, which has happened in a cab upon sudden brakes a couple of times. I need a clever solution to this tiny problem. Something that can ease the inconvenience while looking nice hanging outside of my Treillis or other bags:-P

That is when I remembered I have always wanted to get a Louis Vuitton Key And Change Holder to hook on bags for this purpose. I was intrigued with the Louis Vuitton Complice Trunks and Bags Keys Holder and this was the perfect excuse to finally buy it! The Louis Vuitton Complice Trunks and Bags Keys Holder was much bigger than the usual Key and Change Holder of other materials, so it could even double up as storage for my mobile phone. I immediately head down to the LV stores to check that out!

Sadly, I was informed by the SAs in Hilton and DFS Scottswalk LV stores that the Louis Vuitton Complice Trunks And Bags Keys Holder has been out of stock for a long time. Since it was a seasonal item, it will no longer be brought in or produced when the stocks run out. This news was disappointing!

After I went back home and did some online research, I convinced myself that the normal size Key and Change Holder will do the job just as well, since iPod nanos are so small and thin, it would fit in the pouches nicely. I do not like the monogram canvas version, as it looks pretty raw and cheap. And Damier checks was not to my liking. The epi leather range is a possibility since I could get a colour that would match with many of my bags, such as black colour with gold hardware:-) I will want something with gold hardware as that will match most of my bags and more importantly, the Monogramouflage Treillis, which features antique brass hardware. I also made a mental note that in case epi leather does not work, I will fall back on the suhali leather (costly!) or the Mini Lin version. Mini Lin is a great option since it is the monogram pattern made smaller and in a deep brown tone woven cotton which is a great match up to the fabric material of the Treillis. It also looks much more expensive and exquisite than the monogram canvas version. But my priority option will be the leather ones.

I head down to LV Ngee Ann City store on Sunday and ask to see all the Key and Change Holder mentioned above. Just as I guessed, I do not like the monogram canvas version (SGD $250). Looks really cheap and fake. I love the epi leather range (SGD $310), I tried the ivory and black colour on my Treillis bag. But one major concern, all epi leather versions come with silver hardware instead of gold:-( I had thought the black ones will be in gold as featured on the website. But the SA told me all of them comes only with silver hardware. I had to find an alternative.

Fortunately, making contingency plans do come in handy. I ask to see the Mini Lin version. The SA gladly obliged and I hooked that onto my Monogramouflage Treillis Bag. Perfect! I am completely sold! The Mini Lin fabric and colour matches superbly well with the Treillis fabric. The deep rich brown tones is not only complimentary to the Treillis' green but also my other brown or black leather bags. Most importantly, it comes with gold hardware and is more scarce and exquisite in workmanship. I dun see too much of Mini Lin being carried around yet...so this will be a more interesting option. Out flashes my credit card and came home with me, this cute little Mini Lin Key And Change Holder:-P It definitely looks gorgeous with my Monogramouflage Treillis Bag! I LVoe LV!

(On a side track, I am posting pic of the 'flaw' (Click pic to enlarge) on one of the handles of my Treillis bag...it's very minor as you can see...just tiny pin hole size white spots...where the top layer of the raw cowhide leather peels off. What do you guys think? Will you be bothered by it?

I checked with LV DFS Scottswalk and they told me the spare parts might only come in 6 months time and they have no idea if this leather part can be replaced and at what costs. Possibility is high but not confirmed yet. However, timeline for the repair could take many months. The beautiful and friendly SA, Serene mentioned they would have exchanged the bag if it is not a limited edition item which was out of stock in Singapore. She did suggest the workshop can send the bag to Hong kong for inspection to determine if that was a quality issue, but she feels even when detected as quality issue, a replacement will be unlikely since this bag is scarce in quantities. The flaw to her was very minor. And she said the bag was meant to have a rugged look, so some imperfections should not affect the look of the bag. The leather will also aged and darken which may even out the tiny specks. I feel the same way. I will check with LV again in 6 months time should I still feel bothered by it. I should be able to get a quote on replacing the leather part by then. But I highly doubt in six months time I will be so concerned. I am just fussy when the bag is new:-P)

Retail price: SGD $275. Where to buy: Louis Vuitton Boutique at Ngee Ann City