Lunar Vuitton, French Luxury House Honors Astronauts in NY

Fashion and astronautics had an unlikely rendezvous Monday night at the American Museum of Natural History's Rose Center for Earth and Space, where Louis Vuitton threw a party to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the lunar landing and simultaneously launch its new ad campaign featuring NASA hall-of-famers Buzz Aldrin, Sally Ride, and Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell. The astronaut theme wasn't such a giant leap for the brand, explained LV North America CEO Daniel Lalonde. "From the beginning, we've been a travel-based company. So we thought, what is the ultimate journey?"

left:Buzz Aldrin and Jim Lovell with Louis Vuitton's Daniel Lalonde, center

right:Estelle, in Louis Vuitton with Alexander McQueen shoes.

left:Miranda Kerr, in Louis Vuitton.

right:Cassie, in Louis Vuitton

How about the life of Buzz Aldrin? Since becoming the second man to walk on the moon, he's gone deep-sea diving, published a memoir about alcoholism, and cut a rap track with Snoop Dogg—and that's just in the past few months. "I may drive a Hummer to the South Pole in December," the 79-year-old noted. As for posing for Annie Leibovitz: "It's a little bit of a change from a space suit."

left:Jessica Szohr, in a Temperley London Jacket, Louis Vuitton shoes and bag.

right:June Ambrose, in Marc Jacobs.

left:Sky Nellor.

right:Daniel Lalonde, Brooke Neidich, and Adam Weinberg.