5 Things to Know About the Louis Vuitton Show, Paris Fashion Week's Highlight

1. The runway show was held at a future Louis Vuitton hotel.

Photo:

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton swapped its usual location at the Louvre for its under-construction space on the Champs-Élysées. It will be a hybrid space including a store, cultural venue, and hotel. To keep some mystery around the launch, the interior was wrapped in orange plastic by production designer James Chinlund to resemble the inside of a hot-air balloon. Indeed, travel was a theme of the show. The venue was tighter than usual, and one guest said she heard it was 200 seats smaller than the brand’s typical runway shows. A sizable proportion of that guest list was dedicated to a plethora of celebrities.

2. It was one of the most star-studded runway shows of the season.

Photo:

Louis Vuitton

Speaking of the notable attendees, the brand’s global ambassador Zendaya drew the most attention in a white dress with statement hardware worthy of the red carpet. Other celebrity guests spanned every category of influence, from actresses like Cate Blanchett and Regina King to athletes like Venus Williams and musicians like Pharrell and Robyn.

3. Travel and packing inspired the collection.

Photo:

Louis Vuitton

Nicolas Ghesquière called the Louis Vuitton S/S 24 collection “a deep dive into the idea of ​​an extraordinary journey.” The clothing was purposely packable, a change from last season’s less practical supersized hardware. The weight of the pieces and items that can survive the inevitable suitcase wrinkling were considered. Items that checked these boxes include taffeta shirtdresses, lightweight suiting, and layerable jackets. The result was a collection that felt a bit more wearable—without compromising Ghesquière’s directional, visionary taste that has made him one of fashion’s most exceptional creatives. 

4. The accessory of note was a hip-accentuating belt.

Photo:

Louis Vuitton

Low-slung crisscross belts appeared on many of the 46 looks. The chunky accessory has an ’80s sensibility that feels like territory ripe for a revisit, and it wouldn’t be surprising if this show ushers in a new era for the statement belt. 

5. Everyone was talking about the jackets.

Photo:

Louis Vuitton

While there was no shortage of special pieces that came down the runway (notably, a fluid sequin jumper that made everyone draw out their cameras), the jackets stole the show. A trio of double-breasted bombers in satin and leather stood out, and a series of blazers with split hems closed the show to great effect. Though the jackets appeared to be made of a bouclé-like fabric, it was revealed at the resee that it was actually a material that was laser-cut to give it the textured appearance.