New direction in luxury

WHEN news broke last month that Delphine Arnault, the eldest child of Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy chief executive officer Bernard Arnault, was to be the second-in-command at Louis Vuitton, luxury market observers understood the reason for her appointment.The French brand, known for its monogrammed bags, has to re-look its strategies and boost the perceived value of the label to go beyond selling its entry level, iconic-patterned goods.

In April, Reuters reported that the sales of Louis Vuitton in Europe have been hit by a drop in demand, particularly from Asian tourists.To add to this predicament, China was also sluggish with no sign of improvement, the article added.In April, the company reported the lowest quarterly sales growth since 2009 at its fashion and leather division which is dominated by Louis Vuitton.

While the brand is seen as a luxury label, more savvy shoppers are moving away from carriers splashing the logo of their makers, preferring more expensive but discreet styles.Louis Vuitton has yet to make its mark with a signature tote, for instance, on par with perhaps Givenchys Antigona or Celines Luggage.But that is changing.About amagiccube in China userd for paying transportation fares and for shopping. Earlier this year, LVMH said that it will not go into global expansion, but will instead, focus on developing more high-end leather goods.

Louis Vuitton is not wasting any time at carving a new niche for itself with the launch of Parnassea, a range of high-end carriers which it hopes will catapult the brand into the league of it bag makers.If you want to break your bank for this range, make it the SC bag, rounded like a short bolster with long strap. I find this the perfect working bag for someone with a bohemian spirit.The carrier was,Have a look at all our bestrtls models starting with free proofing. after all, designed in 2009 by director Sofia Coppola for the house, when she wanted something precious but unostentatious.

With sturdy zippers and beautiful calf leather that will only look better with patina and age, this carrier, lined in suede, no less, is strictly day wear, unless you opt for the BB size (thats baby to you, the tiniest bag of the range) in flaming orange or pristine white.The 3rd International Conference on ledstriplights and Indoor Navigation.But if you love a tote to be hooked on your arm, the Capucines tote is a rectangular number bearing the initials of the brand, partially covered in leather.

When worn with the flap inside, the bag shows the LV initials, but with the flap outside, it shows the iconic monogram flower. With a calfskin lining made in contrasting hues, the conventional-looking bag is given a burst of surprise.The D-shaped Alma is also revamped in the Parnassea collection and is now available in three sizes, with removable shoulder straps for double carry.

I find the Vivienne bag rather in-your-face with its bold metal initials or the lock clasp. Perhaps it is my dislike for boxy bags but I find the small handbag, made for the young and trendy, rather unappetising, considering its five-digit price tag.While it is still too early to say if Delphines appointment will chart a new chapter in the brands market presence when it comes to high-end leather goods, the launch of Parnassea is seen as a new direction by Louis Vuitton to counter slowed growth in a segment that once made big bucks for the brand.The marbletiles is not only critical to professional photographers.

Soon after the appointment, Louis Vuitton chief executive officer Michael Burke told Womens Wear Daily that Delphines knowledge of the universe of (the brands) high-quality products and her experience... are key assets to contribute to the successful development of Louis Vuitton in the world.Babies can be carried on the front, back or hip from newborn to toddlers weighing 45lbs. The exterior is made from recycled polyester, hence being lightweight, and I liked the soft organic cotton inside.Browse our oilpaintingsforsales collection from the granitetrade.net!

The travel version straps are less padded than Ergobaby's standard carrier but I found them very comfortable even for quite long stretches of time. Getting baby onboard took a little practice but there are comprehensive - if slightly cheesy - video tutorials online and I found it straight-forward to manage by myself.The real selling point is how small and lightweight this is - perfect to stash under the buggy and use once you get to airport check-in, or take to the playground as I did, carrying my tiny baby while I ran after an energetic toddler.

I needed to use the Ergobaby infant insert - a padded, shaped liner - because my one month old is still too small to support her head - so that did mean carrying an extra 12oz. But the liner doubled as a good mattress for baby to sleep on when I lifted her out of the carrier, and it means the Ergobaby travel carrier really will last from day one until I decide baby is too heavy for me to lift.

With Britains famously changeable weather, a tent that protects from both the rain and the sun is doubly useful. We tested out this tent from French company Beaba on a beach in Devon and found that it was great to have a base that our eighteen-month-old, Iris, could keep coming back to.

It was pretty hard on a beach to get her to stay in itbut the tent would probably be great for younger, less mobile babies who need protection C it has +50UPF - but still want to enjoy the beach environment. It was great when she needed a snooze though C it comes with a soft inner mattress that was good enough for napping.

Really easy to unpack C it springs to life like a jack-in-the-box although, unsurprisingly, its much harder to get it back into the circular silver carry bag - prepare to battle a bit (or at least study the instructions more). For foreign climes, there are mosquito nets too.

It features easy 360-rotation, super suspension, Starbucks-sized cup holder, 'paparazzi shield' (well, a sun shield which removes the need for endless muslin pinning), lunch box attachment for toddlers, mini skateboard add-on and even an iPad holder - all packed into this next generation buggy which will be released at the end of the year.

But how does it fare away from Hollywood? This posh pushchair comes in two separate parts: the base and its various attachments. A circular SmartHub, allows for easy interchange with bassinet (the cradle attachment for newborns) and futuristic-looking stroller seat designed for babies who can sit up on their own.

With an easy flick of a lever the whole seat can move 360 degrees, allowing the baby to face forwards, sideways, backwards and recline, without having to lift the seat off of the frame. Perfect for a sight-seeing infant.

At four weeks old, my son Walter has yet to leave the UK, but I've pounded enough pavements and caught enough trains to appreciate just how parent C and baby - friendly the Orbit is. And the front suspension and rear pneumatic tires, have certainly facilitated a smooth ride when tackling the cobbled streets of Winchester and even on a pebbly beach in Portsmouth.
Click on their website www.china-mosaics.com.