>> INSIDER WIRE —Karl Lagerfeld is famous for his hundreds of iPods (among other things), and he's even designed a Fendi trunk specifically for the storage of multiple iPods.  For his personal storage needs, however, he commisioned a bespoke trunk from Louis Vuitton — one that costs tens of thousands of dollars — to carry 20 iPods plus their accessories, with his initials stamped near the handle. [Luxist]

>> INSIDER WIRE —Vogue Paris's December/January issue, guest edited by Princess Stephanie of Monaco, is supposed to drop Nov. 28, and with it comes that annual treat, the calendar.  The 2009 edition was photographed by Terry Richardson and was made in collaboration with Louis Vuitton, featuring footwear and bits of lingerie from the Cruise and Spring 2009 collections.  Anna Maria Jagodzinska and Aline Weber are rumored to be inside. [WWD, TFS]

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>> ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —Louis Vuitton doesn't appear to be hurting — word is they've shelled out $10 million for Madonna to be the face of the Spring 2009 collection, as captured by Steven Meisel.  The shoot appears to have gone down last Friday: Marc Jacobs was spotted in LA last Thursday, reports came that it all went down the next day at Cafe Figaro in LA, and Madonna was photographed Friday looking like she had just come from a photoshoot.  One thing's for sure: all those months of carrying that Richard Prince Louis Vuitton bag have paid off for Madonna big time. [Page Six]

>> INSIDER WIRE —Is Louis Vuitton reviving the iconic Stephen Sprouse graffiti bags early next year?  Samples of the originals are being called in from various magazines, and Marc Jacobs is creating a new collection for Louis Vuitton, inspired by the original 2001 Sprouse collaboration, that will coincide with a retrospective Sprouse exhibition and be available when the exhibit opens on Jan. 9, 2009. [Fashionista]

>> The vivid, saturated colors that mark Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott's photography have long been associated with Louis Vuitton — they've shot every seasonal ad campaign for the brand, with maybe one exception, from as far back as 2002.

Spring 2009 may bring a new look — reports came today that former Versace face Madonna will be the face of the Spring 2009 tribal-Parisian Louis Vuitton collection, with Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott behind the lens, but other sources are saying not so — "they are wrong about the photographer." 

Steven Meisel did Madonna's Vanity Fair cover earlier this year and also collaborated with him on her infamous Sex book, but she's also worked with Steven Klein often, including this year's Dazed & Confused cover and W a couple of years ago, so both photographers could feasibly be front runners over Mert and Marcus.
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