Louis Vuitton's first ever TV commercial aired during an interlude of Homeland last weekend, and sees top model Arizona Muse saunter through one of Paris' oldest landmarks before taking flight in a hot air balloon.

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Here, the duo behind the ad, photo and director mavericks Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, explain the meaning behind the oh-so-stylish mini film.

"It's an invitation on a mysterious journey around the world marked by stopovers and adventures," they explain, having picked the Louvre museum and a close-up of Leonardo da Vinic's Mona Lisa to leave no doubt as to model Muse's location.

The key sported around the "heroine's" neck is both a symbolic and literal object: "It opens and closes all possible powers: it opens the pathways of knowledge, initiation, mystery and curiosity. It therefore symbolises the beginning of this young woman's quest."

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With it she opens a giant Vuitton trunk and finds a Speedy Monogram Empreinte to get her on her way. And off she goes, galloping across the cobbles of the Louvre (no mean feat in heels, we can assure you) into a beautifully bold red hot air balloon.

While the identity and purpose of the male protganist remains a mystery, "we will find her where the hot air balloon has landed," say Inez and Vinoodh of Arizona, making for a very chic cliffhanger…

Enjoy the advert in full below:

louisvuitton.co.uk

Via: Behind the scenes on Louis Vuitton's first TV advert