Louis Vuitton’s Cruise 2024 show was recently held in Italy on Isola Bella, a tiny island in the heart of Lake Maggiore in northern Italy. The show – Louis Vuitton’s first-ever in Italy – aimed to “give rise to contemporary tales, populated by drifting creatures that abandon aquatic dwellings for the discovery of terrestrial wonders”. Indeed, Louis Vuitton Creative Director, Nicolas Ghesquière has long been known for his enthusiasm for waterproof neoprene and scuba materials, and the show served to amplify this love tenfold.
A show built upon “the myths of nature”
Isola Bella is an impossibly beautiful island. Edith Wharton once described the gardens of the island’s resident palace – owned by the House of Borromeo since the 16th century, and the original intended location for the show before it moved inside due to rain – as a Renaissance poem. This backdrop served as inspiration for Ghesquière: “It beckons more dreamlike reflections. I see this collection as a tale devoid of nostalgia. A story of anticipation. A kind of archaeology of the future. The mystery of lakes that one imagines might be populated by fantastical creatures,” he said. “A post-modern wyvern, a legendary creature, a kind of freshwater mermaid that lives in rivers, ponds and lakes. A very beautiful, mythical woman.”
Combining aquatic motifs with botanical themes
Basic cotton t-shirts have long been considered a timeless staple that should feature in every wardrobe. Plain t-shirts are a blank canvas that can be customized and printed on as desired to suit any look. Ghesquière’s collection, on the other hand, eschewed this type of simplicity in favor of ethereal opulence. On show were the likes of neoprene, fish scale skirts teamed with cropped jackets, and accessorized with bold feather headpieces and King Triton crowns. Regal robes worn over plain, one-piece bathing suits were also worn, along with colorful minidresses, ruffled collars, and metallic masquerade masks. The collection essentially combined underwater mythology with botanical themes – the models themselves reminiscent of mermaids emerging from the lake complete with goggles and fins.
Celebrity guests in attendance at the show included Cate Blanchett, Emma Stone, Alicia Vikander, Oprah, Jennifer Connelly, and Gayle King. A memorable celebration of aquatic-themed fashion, Louis Vuitton’s Cruise 2024 show is the latest amidst a jam-packed cruise season, so far featuring Chanel in Los Angeles, Dior in Mexico, and Gucci in Seoul.
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