Louis Vuitton has showcased Nicolas Ghesquière’s destination shows in iconic architectural locations for a decade. This year, Ghesquière selected Antoni Gaudi’s Hypostyle Room in Park Güell, known for its mosaic ceilings, as the setting. Originally designed as a planned community, construction of Park Güell halted due to World War I, and it was later turned into a park, now a prominent Barcelona attraction along with Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia. The park’s fantastical atmosphere aligns with the time-traveling themes Ghesquière has developed at Vuitton, though this year’s show diverged in inspiration.
Ghesquière’s new Louis Vuitton Cruise 2025 show collection drew from a variety of Spanish influences rather than directly from Gaudi. In a pre-show interview, he cited Spanish masters like Velazquez, Goya, and Zurburan, filmmaker Luis Buñuel, the 2022 film “As Bestas” by Rodrigo Sorogoyen, and the upcoming America’s Cup in Barcelona, which Vuitton sponsors. “I wanted to respect the place we are,” Ghesquière said. “I love that this country evokes a certain groundedness and rigor, while also representing freedom, youthfulness, and extravagance.”
This duality was reflected in the collection, starting with tailored, neutral looks paired with straw gaucho hats and mirrored racing shades. Ghesquière mentioned that the first and third outfits were inspired by the sailor’s traditional vareuse, characterized by wide collars, broad shoulders, and 1980s-style inverted triangle shapes. “It’s quite dressed up, there’s nothing casual about it,” he noted. The collection transitioned from the strictness of jupe tailleurs and coat dresses to the flowing drapery of silk skirts and trousers, reminiscent of the Spanish masters’ chiaroscuro. A standout piece was an ultramarine one-sleeved bubble dress.
The collection also featured equestrian elements like glossy riding boots and jodhpurs with deep faux fur cuffs, and played with polka dots and ruffles without venturing into flamenco dress territory. There was no homage to Cristobal Balenciaga, despite his prominence in Spanish fashion and Ghesquière’s history with the house, indicating a closure of that chapter. Instead, a white lace skirt reimagined with wire hooks paid tribute to Paco Rabanne. Guests included designers Julien Dossena and Natacha Ramsay-Levi, and LV celebrities like Jennifer Connelly, Regina King, and Sophie Turner.
Ghesquière’s innovative approach was evident in silk and wool dresses shrunk with boiling water, showcasing his process-oriented methods and love for textured surfaces. One clear connection between Ghesquière and Gaudi is their shared audacity in design.
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