The Louis Vuitton Malle Golf. Photo: Louis Vuitton
The Louis Vuitton Malle Golf. Photo: Louis Vuitton
The Louis Vuitton Malle Golf. Photo: Louis Vuitton
The Louis Vuitton Malle Golf. Photo: Louis Vuitton

Lifestyle

Luxury

What's inside Louis Vuitton's $129,000 golf-inspired trunk

Here what makes the French maison’s latest offering so special

Selina Denman
Selina Denman

June 01, 2023

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Louis Vuitton has created trunks of all shapes, sizes and uses over the course of its 169-year history – whether dedicated to Christmas decorations or Japanese tea ceremonies, built to serve as coffee tables or writing desks, or made to hold skateboards or precious books.

The French maison’s latest offering is targeted squarely at the golf aficionado. The Malle Golf is a playful reinterpretation of the trunk, standing 1.4 metres high and opening up to reveal a putting mat, drawers for towels and golfing attire, and dedicated compartments for balls and clubs.

The maison’s distinctive Monogram motif and gold hardware are defining features of the design. The patterning is seen across the exterior, and on the front of the Perspex drawers.

To one side, there are 14 slots to hold golf clubs; to the other, a selection of drawers, including a dedicated section for 18 golf balls. The putting matt rolls out from the bottom and leads up to a built-in cup, also marked with an oversized Monogram flower and topped with a jaunty red flag featuring the LV logo.

Also available for uber-fans are monogrammed towels, club head covers, branded golf balls and tees, although these must be purchased separately.

This is not the only sports-specific trunk currently being offered by the brand. It has also launched the Fifa World Cup Official Match Ball Collection Trunk, which comes with 14 official match balls, one from each of the world cups since 1970, as well as an exclusive natural cowhide leather football stamped with the letters L and V. Each ball is given its own dedicated shelf, while two drawers at the bottom of the trunk are the perfect storage spot for any other valuable football-related paraphernalia.

Also new to the line-up is the Baby Wardrobe, part of Louis Vuitton's first collection dedicated to newborns. Modelled on the maison's Wardrobe Trunk, which made its debut in 1875, this adorable new model is designed to be gifted at birth and then serve as a lifetime companion.

It's neutral-hued interiors feature eight drawers of different sizes, two mirrors and three miniature hangers – perfect for storing all the other goodies in the newborn collection, which include tiny leather shoes, onesies and a family of teddy bears.

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

On Women's Day
The Vile

Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah

Director: Majid Al Ansari

Rating: 4/5

While you're here:
More from Tom Fletcher
While you're here
End of free parking

- paid-for parking will be rolled across Abu Dhabi island on August 18

- drivers will have three working weeks leeway before fines are issued

- areas that are currently free to park - around Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqta Bridge, Mussaffah Bridge and the Corniche - will now require a ticket

- villa residents will need a permit to park outside their home. One vehicle is Dh800 and a second is Dh1,200. 

- The penalty for failing to pay for a ticket after 10 minutes will be Dh200

- Parking on a patch of sand will incur a fine of Dh300

Citizenship-by-investment programmes

United Kingdom

The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).

All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.

The Caribbean

Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport. 

Portugal

The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.

“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.

Greece

The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.

Spain

The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.

Cyprus

Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.

Malta

The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.

The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.

Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.

Egypt 

A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.

Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties

Going grey? A stylist's advice

If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”

Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.

Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
​​​​​​​Penguin Press

If you go

The flights 

Emirates flies from Dubai to Funchal via Lisbon, with a connecting flight with Air Portugal. Economy class returns cost from Dh3,845 return including taxes.

The trip

The WalkMe app can be downloaded from the usual sources. If you don’t fancy doing the trip yourself, then Explore  offers an eight-day levada trails tour from Dh3,050, not including flights.

The hotel

There isn’t another hotel anywhere in Madeira that matches the history and luxury of the Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal. Doubles from Dh1,400 per night including taxes.

 

 

Updated: June 01, 2023, 8:54 AM
GolfLouis Vuitton