Italy’s Stresa – When showcasing its cruise collection on an idyllic Italian island Wednesday night, Louis Vuitton bravely braved pouring rain that forced celebrity attendees to hide under umbrellas and ruined a few hairstyles.
But what does a little rain matter when you’re the flagship brand of the formidable LVMH portfolio, with guests like Catherine Deneuve, Cate Blanchett, and Emma Stone?
When the renowned luxury brand headed by Nicolas Ghesquiere selected the tiny Isola Bella, a treasure of an island in the turquoise waters of Lake Maggiore, as an appropriately jaw-dropping venue for their Cruise 2024 collection, bad weather was probably the furthest thing from their minds.
But rain unfortunately came, so the entertainment that was initially scheduled for the island’s formal terraced gardens had to move inside.
the baroque Palazzo Borromeo, which is still owned by the same name’s noble ancestors dating back to the thirteenth century.
“It’s the one thing Nicolas can’t control, is the weather,” Ford Laosuksri, editor-in-chief of Vogue Thailand, said to AFP as attendees stayed to enjoy champagne and wish (in vain) for the rain to cease after the presentation.
Laosuksri was dressed in a crocheted flowery top and shoes, which was a cute but risky gesture given the constant downpour.
“I didn’t want to ruin my velvet shoes,” he admitted.
Since 2013, Ghesquiere has served as the brand’s artistic director. In his famed eclectic and futuristic designs, he sent models through the elaborate, high-ceilinged halls of the 17th-century palazzo.
Some styles reminded people of scuba gear with avant-garde ruffling, while Others had dense quilting across the chest and felt protective, like the costumes worn by fencers.
A shiny black dress featured a drawstring neckline that reminded one of the brand’s well-known handbags, while a sleeveless dress with colour blocks in royal blue and yellow gold had fabric that was cinched tight like an accordion at the bodice, adding texture and movement.
A transparent stripe at the midriff of sweaters made them lighter, and three bias-cut chiffon gowns in dusty pink, sea green, and baby blue featured exaggerated puffed sleeves befitting of the Edwardian era.
Heart Evangelista, a Filipino actress, described it as “beautiful, flowy, but still powerful.”
fashion and fishing
The event hosted by Louis Vuitton was the first-ever fashion show permitted on Isola Bella.
a former fishing community that the Borromeos converted into a lavish paradise fit for kings.
Over the years, the Palazzo Borromeo has hosted kings, queens, and emperors, including Queen Victoria, Napoleon, Josephine, and even Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1985.
Celebrities and influencers from all over the world arrived on the island on Wednesday, including Felix from K-Pop group Stray Kids and US actress Jennifer Connelly.
Before slipping into the palazzo, guests sought refuge under the clear umbrellas the brand had provided.
Following the performance, several attendees posed for photos while perched on seats beneath the watchful eyes of the centuries-old Borromeo elders, whose portraits are displayed on the walls.The goal of cruise collections is to provide warm-weather attire for those who are fortunate enough to escape to sunny locales during the drab winter months. In recent years, they have become destination events, with brands choosing more and more exotic spots to backdrop their luxury looks.
Louis Vuitton’s show comes on the heels of Dior’s, which showed a Frida Kahlo-inspired cruise collection in Mexico City Saturday, and Chanel’s earlier this month at Hollywood’s Paramount Studios.(AFP)
