Louis Vuitton Cruise 2022 is a play on senses and references. Arcade Fire’s “Reflektor” was the tune as models showed off dynamic looks at a larger-than-life sculptural masterpiece that doubled as a runway for the luxury fashion house.
As the song belted out, “Trapped in a prism, in a prism of light/Alone in the darkness, darkness of white/We fell in love, alone on a stage/In the reflective age,” the message came across crystal. Making do with the isolation of the show given COVID-19 measures, the live-streamed event played with dizzying camera tricks on mirrored floors. There is a celebration and optimism in how Louis Vuitton made the most of the situation. And it was all by design.
The clothes were given the perfect set-up to stand out. Playful colors mixed in with classic Louis Vuitton designs caught the eye immediately: Pink outlines on a white-gray Petite Malle, oversized chains on The Coussin, and geometric patterns on boots. In addition, the clothes lent to a marching band theme, as #LVCruise wants to drum in a forward-looking crew. Printed coats with clashing pockets and androgynous coats were paired with fluffy fringe skirts, while a knit sweater was topped with a sparkly top and skirt.
The show was at the Axe Majeur, a three-kilometer straight path from Cergy village past monuments to an island. Located just outside Paris, the Axe Majeur is by the late artist Dani Karavan. Early teasers from the Louis Vuitton Instagram account proved how the place is focal to the presentation’s mythology. A symbol of utopia, the location was described in the show notes as a place where “water, light, wind, sand, concrete, stone, and steel create a felicitous relationship between nature, space, and time.”
Where is this Cruise 2022 collection taking us, you might ask. The future, most definitely.