MONOGRAM MANIA

Like champagne, Bourdeaux wines & exotic cheeses - designer monogrammed stuff greatly improve this life .

Though I am not such a huge fan of deigner monogrammed goods, I know loads of people who would love to own atleast one LV baguette.

Pigs tattooed with the logo of French luxury brand Louis Vuitton rest in a farm in the rural area of China's capital Beijing July 14, 2005. The pigs are owned by Belgian artist Wim Delvoye, who has a staff of local farmers and tattoo artists raising sows to use them as canvases for skin art. Image credit:adpulp

These medal portrayals of the Holy Roman Emperor and his wife Maria are cast separate with plain reverse.The separation of the images allowed to compare both captivating profiles as companion pieces side by side, but also enabled craftsmen to incorporate them in other Kunstkammer and presentation objects, such as ebony cabinets or boxes, silver drinking vessels, or precious jewelry mounts.

Historically, a monogram was used as a royal signature. Romans and Greeks used them on coins to identify their rulers. Then, in the Middle Ages, artisans began to use them to sign their work. Victorian period high-class society adapted the monogram for personal use as a symbol of their place in society. Rules for monograms were quite simple. Female monograms had the first initial on the left, middle initial on the right, and last initial embroidered larger in the middle & the traditional male model was- first, middle, last, all in the same size.

The classic Louis Vuitton prototype is what comes to almost every persons mind when we talk about mongrammed bags. Louis Vuitton handbags are the international standard in baggage from which all others are judged. Louis Vuitton, was a professional luggage handler who packed luggage for upper class families. He invented the airtight and flat stackable luggage.
His son Georges introduced the LV Monogram Damier Canvas in 1896, which was an industry first. In 1901, The Steamer Bag, a small handbag to go with larger LV luggage and trunks, was introduced. Later the elegant and timeless Louis Vuitton handbag Keepall was introduced, which first was a fashion icon. Along with its smaller successor, the Speedy, the Keepall's leather is tooled with the trademark LV design throughout, and the hallmark suave curves and handles suggest simplicity and practicality while maintaining the aura of luxury.

I love it! Japanese department store Matsuya bears the vibrant hued fleurs, quatrefoils and famous LV logo of a Takashi Murakami for Louis Vuitton Multicolore Hard Case. Note the “brass” corners, and “S-lock” closure! It’s all lit up, and apparently- it changes colors every half hour! Image credit: 8tokyo.com

Marc Jacobs introduced the graffiti monogram in 2003 while working with Takashi Murakami to create a new canvas featuring thirty three colors, the Monogram Multicolore. And most recently Takashi Murakami fashioned the Cherry Blossom pattern, in 2004, and new Monogram Cerises pattern, in 2005, both of which were inspired by Japanese animation.

The double GG is what strikes your mind when you think of Gucci. Guccio Gucci founded the House of Gucci as a saddlery shop in Florence in 1906. A classic Gucci icon is the leather bag with a bamboo handle. The trademark red striped webbing was later introduced, inspired by the form place on a saddle girth. This became an emblem much as the leather moccasin with leather bit. The logo with the initials “GG” was introduced in the 1960's.

The iconic Gucci driving mocassin.

The iconic Chanel logo is an overlapping double 'C' - one facing forward and the other facing backward. This comes from the name Coco Chanel. "Coco" is the nickname frequently used by Chanel founder, Gabrielle Chanel. Surprisingly the logo was not trademarked until during the first openings of Chanel stores.

I simply love the handbags in the signature Chanel style - Caviar leather with a pebbled quilt finish with metal chains for shoulder straps.

Madonna shot by Mario Testino for Versace Spring-Summer 2006

Gianni Versace had a fascination with classical art and architecture, and it is with the later, beautiful representations of Medusa that the logo is associated with. Whether its silk scarves, ties or belts the Medusa head simply takes your breathaway.

The table was set for royal meal.

I felt like a queen when I was served on customised Versace crockery at the Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur on my honeymoon. When I saw the signature Versace linked border on my dinner plate, I had to turn the plate around to reveal the Medusa logo at the back. The jewel-like cutlery had the Medusa embossed on it too. The wine, bordeaux & water glasses were placed like precious gems on the table.

Etched in my memory for eternity! Thank You Shrav.