Louis Vuitton took us glamping, Parisian-style
On the final day of fashion month, Louis Vuitton gave us an avant-garde moment, channeled through the lens of childlike wonder. Think: futuristic, geometric outerwear with matching monumental earrings and copious layers. In the era of minimalism, these architectural outlines felt like a hard reset.
Fashion model showcasing a unique garment on a runway.
The show opened with big-shouldered, sleeveless coats (a few with hoods) in spiked wool textures, with furry finishes and Cubist silhouettes. Models wound their way around the Musée du Louvre, in a room full of faux mountains, inspired by the valleys in Louis Vuitton’s (yes, the man himself) hometown in the Jura Mountains near the French–Swiss border.
A childlike essence of play, wonderment and dressing up for pillow forts, picnics and imaginary adventure permeated the collection. A few models carried walking sticks, accented with leather knapsacks. Little lambs and chickens were embellished on skirts and the backs of jackets, and there was also a cauldron-like handbag and tent-like headwear to protect from any kind of weather. Some of the models wore hulking triangular hats, high-fashion versions of the paper sailor hats generations of kids have made for fun. In a tumultuous world, it makes sense that designers are leaning into playful motifs and beauty as metaphorical survival tactics.
Fashion model showcasing a unique coat with fur sleeves on a runway.
Yes, the collection was heavy on statement outerwear and expressive hats. But even beyond the more extreme, conceptual pieces, one could easily see the classic motifs of creative director Nicolas Ghesquière. Quilted leather coats, patchworked plaids and huge ruffled collars and matching bonnets dominated. A closer look at the details revealed big buttons, little backpacks, ruffled gloves, built-in corsets and nuanced accessories like bubble quilted cone hats.
A model showcasing a unique fashion design on a runway.
Plastic-y layers of rainwear in shades of scarlet with baby blue contrast lit up against the mostly neutral-hued collection. Even though the designs were high on volume, a cool 2-D sensibility was visible in much of the outerwear. Ruffled collars were paired with flowing pants that featured smaller ruffles at the hems, while chunky fur vests were piled over sheer fabrics. Furry sleeves took up extra space on flat, oversized coats; wool skirts were decorated with mirrored panels. Gold collar necklaces and 1980s patchwork fusions added a dynamic edge, and cabin-shaped novelty bags underlined the camping aesthetic. There was a clear element of utilitarianism, with floral puffers spruced up in shiny slick materials and tight knitted skull caps reminiscent of aviator hats, as if to ask the wearer, “Ready to take flight?” Consider it fashion’s portal to greener pastures.
