Even as eco-protestors obstructed guests’ access to the presentation, Louis Vuitton strode into Barcelona on Thursday night with an appropriately diverse Catalan cruise collection by Nicolas Ghèsquiere, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Parque Güell.
The actress Léa Seydoux, the brand’s patron, sat first row next to LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault, who also cruised into the city and moored his enormous 101-meter superyacht “Symphony” in the main harbor.
Art Nouveau, Mediterranean Gothic, modernism, and even Velázquez were all blended by Ghèsquiere to create a stunning collection and exhibition.
The first twelve models all had on jaunty-angled bolero riding helmets, voluminous coats with contours, voluptuous skirts, or bomber jackets. Commencing with an amazing beige raffia cape dress including pockets and a white shawl collar; paired with athletic turquoise bug sunglasses and patent leather ankle boots with a strap.
establishing the stage for a mash-up of gothic forms and tech-inspired sports concepts. Perfect for the site is the fabled Parque Güell, a stunning park designed by the renowned architect Antoni Gaudi of Catalonia and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The most recent Ghesquière collection for Vuitton took place in a well-known architectural setting. Past locations include the Oscar Niemeyer-designed MAC in Brazil, the Bob & Dolores Hope Estate by John Lautner in Palm Springs, the Josep Lluís Sert-designed Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, and the Eero Saarinen TWA Terminal at JFK Airport.
Pietro Beccari, Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton, stated, “This year, the Maison’s strong and ongoing relationship with the city is reaffirmed as Nicolas Ghesquière stages Louis Vuitton’s first show in Spain in this majestic location.” Nicolas experimented with lace mantilla cocktails for the evening, but he did it entirely on his terms. He trimmed them into frou frou minidresses or, when worn with fringe tuxedos, he extended them to the floor.
Ghesquière traveled to Spain as a child, and many of his looks reflected those early influences. A middle segment fused the sensual and the spiritual: large-sleeved, black-and-white cassocks worn above the knee by nuns, meant for wealthy punk rockers. Servants of Mary elegant, Cistercian. Before he went completely bonkers with an incredible quartet in taffeta, again cut short and sassy, but wrinkled up like cloaks for the crowning of the virgin.
“All the Spanish clichés and lots more,” remarked Ghesquière, who received a two-minute round of applause for his extremely unique vision and an extended bow.
The significance of the America’s Cup to Vuitton was further highlighted by this trip to Barcelona and its collection. The upcoming edition of the renowned yacht race, which begins in Barcelona on August 29, has the house as its primary sponsor. “There is no doubt that the America’s Cup is the best sailing competition. And the best luxury clothes brand available is Vuitton. Thus, they are a perfect match, said Grant Dalton, who was seated in the first row and serves as the CEO of Team New Zealand, the current America’s Cup holder.
The house started sponsoring the Louis Vuitton Cup in 1983, when Henry Racamier was still the CEO of Vuitton and premium backing for sports was still rather uncommon. The competition’s goal is to identify the challengers who will compete against the defending yacht club in the America’s Cup final.
Australia II outran the New York Yacht Club in that year’s final, which took place off the coast of Newport, Rhode Island, and went down in athletic history as the longest winning streak in the history of the sport—132 years. The American captain who lost, Dennis Conner, is renowned for saying that the loss was “like losing the Panama Canal.”
In 2011, the most recent edition, Vuitton paused while the trophy was maintained in Auckland by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Club. It has now returned with a bang. formally renaming the championship series the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup and sponsoring the Louis Vuitton Cup.
“I feel like Bernard Arnault is involved in all of this. He determined that, “If I am going to support the America’s Cup, we might as well have Louis Vuitton’s name associated with the entire event,” said the no-nonsense, 66-year-old Dalton, a seven-time global racer.
The America’s Cup is becoming more and more of a design competition. Yacht designers cut the number of crew members in half from the maximum of 17 a decade ago. Teams this year will consist of eight sailors, but competitors like Allinghi from Switzerland may have as many as forty designers. aided by Red Bull’s Formula One team and technological assistance. All of this makes Vuitton and Ghesquière, whose whole style revolves around fusing energetic sport with avant-garde couture, the perfect partners for the America’s Cup. Let the racing commence.
