Celebs get free stuff. Here is how it works:
- It's part of the overall communication plan.
For specific items, LV will determine which actresses, singers, celebs
receive which gift. Usually they target the girls that are highly media
coveted.
- They did give the Sprouse Cashmere scarf to Sienna Miller, as well as
Kate Moss and others.
LV earned the results that were expected; the celebs have been
photographed with the scarf on!
Of course, they send the gift with no guarentee that the star will wear
the gift.
If the celeb is photographed then it's free publicity for LV.
- An other example; when you saw Janet with the Miroir Alma, her outfit
was comprised of LV, which was accented by the Bindis Sunglasses.
She didn't want to keep the Alma cause the version she had was a
prototype. She gave it back. For her kindness, Louis Vuitton let her keep the
rest of the outfit.
- Celebs stylists work with the LV Press Relations office & they ask
for a specific look for their client.
LV can accept to lend the merchandise or not but if the celeb is famous
enough, they just provide the pieces as free gifts. Otherwise, the
stylist has to send back the clothes (that's what they usually do). Also,
if the celeb really likes the outfit they will ask to keep it. The
answer is usually yes.
- Celebs don't get discounts or free stuff at the store but have access
to the "Forced Sale" merchandise.
In every flagship store, they have 3 to 6 pieces of a limited line on
the side (current limited line) to be able to sell to a VIP and I'm
talking about a celeb not a good client, or VIC. The tiers of power shift
greatly between VIP & VIC in this last mentioned point.
To give you an idea, if a famous actress-singer comes to the NY 5th
Avenue store - San Francisco Union Square and ask for a Speedy Miroir they
will have the Speedy Miroir for her.
If a stylist calls the PR LV office and says: "I work for ------ and
she will be on the red carpet for 3 events in the next 2 weeks, she wants
this look and this look... from the Spring Summer 2007", then LV will
the lend the outfit & accessories to the stylist.
She will definitely be photographed and it will be free publicity for
LV. As such, it is absolutely imperative for every brand to have a good
PR (Public Relations) team.
In other words they don't get free stuff at the store but they get the
opportunity to wear some outfits and accessories for free. Sometimes
they keep it and they also receive gifts according to the current LV
communication plan. That plan is always strategically and efficiently
crafted ahead of time, leaving little room for any mistakes.
That said, all of the above does not apply to VIC's which have far more
reduced privileges, but are nevertheless afforded small gifts (never
merchandise or in-store items) and invitations to local special events.
Even the most expensive "best clients" gifts does not cost LV more than
$30 to make/offer/deliver.
These VIC gifts, regardless of their apparent worth, are equivalent to
'souvenirs', and as the title suggests, hold little monetary value.
This is also why merchandise is never used as gifts because it does hold
'real' retail value in that the profit margin is in upwards of 60-80%.
Especially about the mono being made of PVC. I don't think we'd buy it if that was the case. I surely wouldn't.
However, I've always wondered why everything's in the masculine form..... Most of the bags' designs are rather feminine, thus targeted toward females imo (not that guys can't wear them...
), so why not put everything in the feminine form??? 
lol thanks for the info