LOUIS VUITTON WESTMINSTER DAMIER EBENE BROWN CANVAS SHOULDER BAG

When fashion designer Louis Vuitton first arrived in Paris in 1837, the city had yet to unfold as a fashion and design capital. But it was here that Vuitton founded his luggage empire and, just a quarter century later, opened the world’s largest store of travel items at 70 avenue des Champs-Élysées. Vuitton’s wanderlust remains integral to the brand today, which authors Patrick Mauriès and Pierre Léonforte chronicle in the new book Louis Vuitton: The Spirit of Travel (Flammarion, $40) using archival photos, print advertisements, and historical records. The company went on to open stores around the globe, from New York to Beijing, while the signature leather bags evolved to include the latest technological innovations. These days, traveling with Louis Vuitton pieces is the ultimate symbol of sophistication and luxury, for both far-flung adventures and everyday subway commutes.