Cruise around desert
The Louis Vuitton cruise show extravaganza in Palm Springs provided a land cruise of the desert environs too. ¶ Vuitton hosted events over three days for 550 guests, some from as far away as Asia. ¶ Events surrounding the runway show at the Bob and Dolores Hope Estate were designed to showcase the area’s Modernist architecture, fine art and dining. Vuitton even printed up its own maps with suggested itineraries. Among the highlights:
Palm Springs Art Museum & Sculpture Garden
Founded in 1938, the museum has an art collection that rivals those of major cities — including works by Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Ansel Adams and Donald Judd, as well as a large array of Native American art and artifacts, much of it donated by the area’s wealthy residents. The collection is spread over 150,000 square feet of gallery space in a building designed by Modernist architect E. Stewart Williams. Vuitton hosted a luncheon in the garden, where guests ate among sculptures by Henry Moore and Jim Dine. 101 N. Museum Drive, Palm Springs, psmuseum.org
Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center
Opened in 2014 as an adjunct to the art museum, the center is dedicated to showcasing the architecture and design of the area. On view now through July 26 is an exhibition of Joshua Tree artist Andrea Zittel’s “A-Z Aggregated Stacks,” which are sculptural, stark white, grid-like cardboard and plaster boxes, juxtaposed with graphic textiles from the museum’s collection. You can visit both museums for the $5 admission price. 300 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, psmuseum.org
Parker Palm Springs hotel
The hotel hosted celebs, press and clients during the trip and was the scene of the after-show dinner and party.
The site of California’s first Holiday Inn, which opened in 1959, the hotel’s list of other former owners includes Gene Autry and Merv Griffin.
The hotel has been owned by Le Parker Meridian since 2004, when it was transformed into a whimsical Midcentury-style destination with the help of cheery potter-interior designer Jonathan Adler.
The hotel is a frequent backdrop for fashion shoots, including the famous W magazine photo 4200 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, theparkerpalmsprings.com
Dinah Shore estate
Louis Vuitton hosted a buffet luncheon poolside at the historic Midcentury estate designed in 1964 for actress-singer Dinah Shore by prolific Palm Springs architect Donald Wexler. The six-bedroom compound also has a tennis court and a guest house.
The property is available to rent by the night starting at $4,500 (two-night minimum). 432 W. Hermosa Place, Palm Springs, 432hermosa.com
Copley’s Restaurant
Cary Grant’s 1940s-era former guest house was the site of a farewell dinner for guests the night after the show. Open since 2004, with a stunning outdoor courtyard, the restaurant serves traditional fare, such as beef tenderloin and tuna tartare. 621 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, copleyspalmsprings.com
Louis Vuitton Store
The brand’s desert outpost is along Palm Desert’s high-end shopping corridor, the Shops at El Paseo. It has a small collection of 73-515 El Paseo, G-1708, Palm Desert, louisvuitton.com
Fine Art of Design
Though it was not technically on the Vuitton suggested itinerary, fashionable guests such as blogger Susie Bubble found their way to this Palm Desert vintage clothing gem anyway. Bubble nabbed a vintage Courrèges jacket here. 73717 Highway 111, Palm Desert, thefineartofdesign.com
Body Deli
Local bath and body product purveyor Body Deli was tapped to supply in-room amenities for Vuitton’s 500 hotel guests, including a Palm Springs Spa Collection lotion, body oil and scrub made with locally sourced, raw and organic citrus and evening jasmine. 73560 El Paseo, Palm Desert, thebodydeli.com
Palm Canyon trails
Vuitton organized a morningafter hiking excursion. The 15 miles of hiking trails just minutes from the heart of downtown Palm Springs are a microcosm of the area’s landscape — rocky gorges, barren desert, date palms and cactus. 38500 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, indian-canyons.com