All set for (space) travel

Nicolas Ghesquière’s longtime fascination with science fiction and outer space are a hallmark of his collections for Louis Vuitton, but none have been so ready for liftoff as his 2022 Cruise collection.

Louis Vuitton’s women’s artistic director made a short film of his collection’s 45 looks at Axe Majeure, a sculpture park near Paris, where models promenaded through the gates of a monument by the late artist Dani Karavan.

Roughly reminiscent of Japan’s Fushimi Inari gates or, more precisely, space portals, the catwalk had a mirror-like surface that made the models look as if they were walking on clouds, aptly set to a soundtrack of Arcade Fire’s bouncy song Reflektor.

While the pandemic has given rise to many optimistic, colorful collections open to the prospect of travel, only Ghesquière’s has offered a ticket not just to earthly destinations but also to the outer reaches of our solar system, where the only passport you need is imagination.

Sundresses were printed with extraterrestrial landscapes; a white coat was emblazoned with a Saturn print and worn with space boots. Sharply tailored uniforms made the models look like military cadets at space camp.  I can imagine K-pop stars like BTS wearing these, and what better way to outfit their army?

The bags were a little more down to earth:  cross-body totes made with Louis Vuitton’s Monogram leather or woven leather strips, and colorful, boxy handbags with large, chain-link straps that were echoed on some of the dresses, crisscrossing like ammo belts.

There was also a retro Jetsons vibe running through the collection, with go-go boots and apron-like harnesses edged with pink ruffles.

LV’s Cruise ’22 bags were more down to earth: Cross-body totes made with Louis Vuitton’s Monogram leather or woven leather strips, and colorful, boxy handbags with large, chain-link straps that were echoed on some of the dresses.

But with statement numbers like a vinyl LBD that was as slick as a black mirror, a dress covered in sparkling silver crystals, and a David Bowie-esque mullet top with red lightning bolts, this is resort wear for a new breed of travel influencer — one about to board Elon Musk’s SpaceX or Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic.

It’s what I imagine Princess Leia would wear while directing the Rebel Alliance. The Force is definitely with Louis Vuitton and Nicolas Ghesquière.

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Louis Vuitton stores are located in Greenbelt 4, Ayala Center, Makati, and Solaire Resort & Casino Manila.

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Follow the author on Instagram @theresejamoragarceau and @thebeautytraveler_ph.