Who would have thought that the month of May would see the return of the monogrammed boxing gloves Karl Lagerfeld once conceived with Louis Vuitton back in 2014? Nicolas Ghesquière, that’s who. Art—specifically the nonconforming kind—came to the forefront at the French Maison’s recent unveiling of its Cruise 2027 collection.
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LV Cruise 2027: Art, Dichotomies, and Living Audaciously
A storyteller at heart, Ghesquière had been leaving a trail of breadcrumbs leading up to this presentation. Squint hard enough and you’ll see that choosing two-time Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu as his latest House Ambassador—and having her figure skate in Manhattan for the lineup’s teaser—meant the audience was bound to see fearless artistic expression. Given the current discourse regarding the use of AI within creative industries, it’s only fitting, isn’t it? Cheeky, even. Time and time again, the creative director seems to champion authenticity, regardless of how close it comes to being too obscure.
If Louis Vuitton F/W26 had models frolicking in a meadow, Cruise 2027’s “boxing ring” was The Frick Collection, an Upper East Side art museum filled with about 1,500 art pieces from the Renaissance to the late nineteenth century. Texture and shape remained key elements for Ghesquière, with broad shoulders and angular waists serving as standout details while “Boys Wanna Be Her” by Peaches blared in the background.
Artist Keith Haring’s influence was equally apparent, evident in the graphic black lines mingling with bold colors and maximalist motifs. In this exploration of New York dichotomies, the old-world wealth of the museum met extended cuffs, strategic cut-outs, sheer fabrics, printed leather, multi-pocketed trousers, and an abundance of headwear. Oh, and halo hair.
In terms of star power, there was no shortage of that either, with Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Zendaya, Chase Infiniti, Emma Stone, Amy Adams, Cate Blanchett, Liu Yifei, Felix of Stray Kids, and Hoyeon Jung sitting in the front row.
Nicolas Ghesquière’s New York state of mind ensures that uptown and downtown are married, the past meets the future, and tradition and modernity are intertwined. All together, the canon of history is introduced to the vital energy of cultural evolution. There’s a certain hilarity to it, too—imagine showing a pair of shiny Louis Vuitton sneakers to a Renaissance-period nobleman. But Ghesquière is honest in his absurdity, at least. He passionately follows his artistic instinct. Let’s give him that. If anyone can muster that kind of audacity and still come across as thoroughly charming, it’s him.
Photos: LOUIS VUITTON
Frequently Asked Questions
The Louis Vuitton Cruise 2027 show was held at The Frick Collection, an iconic Upper East Side art museum in New York City featuring historical Renaissance masterpieces.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu is the newest House Ambassador for Louis Vuitton, starring in the promotional teaser figure skating across a rink in Manhattan.
Artist Keith Haring heavily inspired the collection, as seen through bold graphic black lines, maximalist motifs, and vibrant colors blended throughout the contemporary runway garments.
Key design elements include broad shoulders, angular waists, strategic cut-outs, sheer fabrics, multi-pocketed trousers, printed leather, extended cuffs, halo hair, and updated lifestyle monogrammed boxing gloves.
High-profile front-row attendees included Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Emma Stone, Amy Adams, Cate Blanchett, Liu Yifei, Hoyeon Jung, and Felix of the K-pop group Stray Kids.
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