Naomi Campbell and Marc Jacobs Make Louis Vuitton a Moment in Milan

This headline picture of Naomi Campbell stepping off a private jet, surrounded by an array of Louis Vuitton luggage—including the label's very first baby blue monogram bag—has become nothing short of iconic.

Captured in 1998, just before Marc Jacobs’ debut show for Louis Vuitton, the moment has come to symbolize the glamour and excitement of the fashion world at the time. Jacobs had recently been appointed as the brand’s creative director, a role he would hold until 2014. This snapshot predates his first collection for the house, making it an important piece in both fashion and pop culture history.

In 2019, Campbell and Jacobs reunited to reflect on that legendary image during an episode of her YouTube series _No Filter_. In the conversation, Naomi recalled how, just days before Jacobs’ highly anticipated first show in Paris, she and several other top models were stranded in Milan due to logistical issues. With no models available for his runway, Jacobs took a bold step: he sent a private jet, packed with Louis Vuitton boxes, to pick up Campbell and her fellow supermodels and whisk them away to Paris for the show.

In true '90s fashion, Campbell, ever the savvy star, requested that the paparazzi be alerted to capture the moment. “I told them, 'Call the paparazzi so they can shoot us with our Vuitton luggage,’” she revealed, adding that the images quickly made their way into _Women's Wear Daily_ soon after. The snapshot was more than just a practical solution to a fashion emergency—it became an instant symbol of high-fashion excess and elegance.

What was then a moment of spontaneous glamour has evolved into a visual relic of a luxury market that is now appreciating its past more than ever. Today, the image feels even more iconic, thanks in part to the resurgence of Louis Vuitton bags, specifically, in the resale market. With the growing popularity of vintage and pre-owned luxury goods, Louis Vuitton pieces from the late '90s and early 2000s—particularly those created under Marc Jacobs—are experiencing a newfound demand. The baby blue monogram bag seen in the photo has become a coveted collector's item, symbolizing the intersection of nostalgia and luxury.