Within the gardens of the Domaine du Palais Royal, a gradient rainbow runway signaled the new vision of Virgil Abloh. Uniting the Maison’s tradition of travel and luxury with a global message of positivity, Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Ready-to-Wear Artistic Director proposed his first SS19 collection complete with reimagined contemporary silhouettes, leather goods and accessories.
The 56-looks collection begins with all-white opening to an explosion of colours. Leather embossed with the house’s signature monogram, iconic bags revisited with multi-coloured and iridescent large chains, accessories shown over a rainbow-bright catwalk.
Relaxed tailoring maintained a strong presence as the constant between comfortable day looks and formal attire. Harnesses and vests featuring an archive pocket design embodied Abloh’s idea of “accessomorphosis” whereby an accessory becomes a garment, thus evolving its function. Streetwear silhouettes took on elevated new forms through an exact twist of three-percent from their original shape. The iconic Keepall became dynamically revisited in transparent and iridescent monogram surfaces, or else in all-over white, ruby red and emerald leathers with each bag boasting an enlarged chain strap.
As models from around the world walked the runway in LV Skate sneaker boots, formal derbies studded with LV hardware, and vintage LV Runner sneakers, they evoked Abloh’s ideal of the Yellow Brick Road, Dorothy’s path of discovery and otherworldly escape. Scenes from the film appear integrated into embroidered knitwear and printed outwear, in addition to the final silver leather poncho with commemorative Louis Vuitton and Wizard of Oz beaded patches. This was Abloh’s story of a dream made real, and the future is bright.
