AP/AFP – French fashion once again demonstrated its unparalleled strength through Nicolas Ghesquière’s collection for Louis Vuitton, seamlessly merging savoir-faire with cultural resonance.
A sheeny striped coat with a curved silhouette opened the show, its adornments and accessories teeming with a kind of futuristic couture – a theme Ghesquière has mastered over his tenure. The coat set the stage for a collection that often intentionally deceived and dazzled the eye, echoing Ghesquière’s penchant for ‘colliding references’ and reimagining the old as new. Giant petal-like fabrics encircled the necks of models, conjuring both South American flair and a nod to punk – the very hybrid aesthetic that makes Ghesquière’s work so unmistakable.
The show leaned into religious undertones, featuring a priest-like robe with fluid proportions, accessorised with an almost comically oversized black chain adorned with a sort of crucifix.
Yet, despite the individual flair of many pieces, the sheer divergence of styles sometimes felt overwhelming. One particular black-and-white floral split dress seemed to confuse the eye, its busy patterns making it difficult for spectators to discern where the dress ended and the underdress began. This tendency to merge multiple aesthetic elements occasionally crossed into visual overload.
