Overnight, Louis Vuitton took over the City of Love (more specifically, the Louvre) to showcase its Spring/Summer 2022 collection. The highly-anticipated show fell at the tail end of Paris Fashion Week, with the celebrity style set filling the front rows for the special occasion.
The chosen setting actually holds a very special meaning, as company legend has it, the Passage Richelieu within the Louvre was used by Louis Vuitton for his meetings with Empress Eugénie. Given that he was her exclusive trunk maker at the time, it was the place where they would meet to discuss designs and other matters of business.
With the stage set and the Passage Richelieu lit up with antique chandeliers, it was time for the show to begin. One by one, the models emerged, while designer Nicolas Ghesquière waited in the wings.
The show undoubtedly took inspiration from one of fashions biggest trends since Bridgerton — regencycore. Long, flowing capes, lace-frilled high neck collars and cropped, tailored jackets were a recurring theme throughout the show, all harking back to garments worn around the 1900s. While much of the show felt like it belonged in the 18th and 19th century, there were pieces which clearly drew inspiration from other eras, including the oversized 80s tuxedo jackets and flowing hippie-style dresses from the 70s.
A standout dress was undoubtedly the exquisitely embellished design which billowed out at the hips while still retaining an element of grace, dynamically moving along with the models as they made their way down the runway. While reminiscent of times gone by, these pieces almost felt futuristic, which is a testament to Ghesquière and his ability to blend past and present together seamlessly. As we know, the designer is fascinated by the concept of time, so bringing elements of different eras together is somewhat a specialty for him.
As the show notes stated, “time is of no consequence,” and it couldn’t ring more true.
As we know, the brand name Louis Vuitton has become synonymous with handbags, so the audiences eyes were flicking back and forth between the fashion and the bag designs. Oversized tote bags were spotted multiple times, balanced out by smaller, clutch-style accessories and bucket bags. Much of the palette for the clothing designs were muted tones with black and white as the hero colours of choice. As such, bag colours included a pop of pink, understated tan and sleek black, all of which served to tie together the overall look in an effortless manner.
Below, our favourite looks from the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2022 runway show.
