Handbag of the week: Louis Vuitton

Prices start at £405, by Louis Vuitton from Selfridges

Selfridges knows how to celebrate a birthday in style. To commemorate its centenary the luxury department store has opened a Louis Vuitton concept pop-up shop to celebrate the brand's famous heritage bag, the Speedy.
The silver or gold Speedy Monogram Mirror bags are limited edition, reintroduced pieces from the Vuitton archives, and there are only 100 of each colour available.  (Previously the mirror version was only available as a Speedy 30 - the number refers to the size of the bag - but Louis Vuitton has reissued it in the next size up especially for Selfridges.)

Living up to their name, the bags are selling rapidly and are expected to sell out by the end of the week. The hype has been amplified by Selfridges' main window display on Oxford street which features a pyramid of the monogrammed versions with the limited edition mirror carriers dotted in amongst them like rare jewels (watch the video below to see the Selfridges window installation and inside the concept store).

Inside the concept store, Louis Vuitton fans can check out some of the most notorious Speedy incarnations, including the Takeshi Murakami Cherry print style and original collectors items from the 2001 Stephen Sprouse collection. You can get even more involved with the Speedy experience by personalising your own bag with your initials and coloured stripes. 

The Louis Vuitton concept store is open now until 26 June 2009.