Discover Louis Vuitton’s Cruise 2024 Collection at Isola Bella: A Fresh, Intricate, and Historical Ocean-Inspired Runway Spectacle.
Isola Bella on Lake Maggiore, on a not-too-sunny day at the end of May was the setting of choice for Nicolas Ghesquière‘s Cruise 2024 collection for Louis Vuitton. To the sound of a whimsical melody verging on creepy, models challenged the imminent rain as they swerved the elegant garden runway, draped in all kinds of sea-wear evoking mermaids and ocean-inspired fits that make up a collection that feels fresh, intricate and historical.
Image courtesy of Vogue Runway
The first look to grace the runway is a peculiar one. Showcasing a Batman-like spiky collar and an electric blue neoprene jacket, the model prods along in trainers, a casual touch to the otherwise regal-like setting. Look two gives us much of the same neoprene, this time the collar hinting at fish scales, and the spin on scuba-diver attire is complemented with a large Louis Vuitton bag in cream. By look number 4, the monstrous merdaid reference becomes poignantly evident, as a model struts with what looks like a hand-painted oversized jacket and a sculptural short skirt.
The mid-runway transitional pieces are peculiar, adopting longer tailoring, flowier material and grand hair pieces with feathers. The neoprene remains, sometimes in the form of bodysuits under juxtaposing light jackets, but eventually finds its path out of the runway entirely, giving way to the more mundane outfits. These exhibit trench coats, transparencies and ever so slowly beging to incorporate ruffles – a prominent element of Ghesquière’s grand finale.
Image courtesy of Vogue Runway
The Louis Vuitton 2024 Cruise collection ends with what is perhaps the most impressive and haute-couture attires. A ruffled sea of pastel colours fills up the gardens as the music becomes more trance-like, providing an almost dystopian touch to the otherwordly dresses of the runway finale. Much softer in colour and form than the preceding looks, these have a sculptural femininity to them, that highlight a flower-like beauty.
