...and then on to Brazil with Louis Vuitton.
A Brazilian setting was the perfect backdrop for Louis Vuitton’s sporty take on futuristic fashion.
eversince my family and I left Brazil in 1995, I’ve taken every chance I can to visit. That’s why, in spite of the Zika virus, economic crisis and presidential-impeachment drama, I didn’t hesitate to accept an invite from Louis Vuitton to attend its resort 2017 show held at the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum in Rio de Janeiro. The building, which was designed by Oscar Niemeyer, is one of the country’s most famous modernist structures. The day before the show, we were taken on a helicopter tour of the city. I’ve visited the Christ the Redeemer sculpture on top of Corcovado mountain many times, but I’ve never flown by it. It was a goosebumps moment. We also flew along the Copacabana and Ipanema beaches and ended our tour with an aerial preview of the show’s venue. The next day, I was curious to see how the city would be reflected in Nicolas Ghesquière’s collection. From the first look— a colourful scuba-like cut-out dress—you could tell that the artistic director drew his #inspo from the city’s mix of surf, soccer and modernist sensibilities. The utilitarian flight suits, leather tunics, floral asymmetrical dresses and ruffled tops with track-suit-inspired pants were all infused with a Brazilian vibe. The bags were also bold, bright and playful, especially the cheeky boom- box bag. On my last afternoon in Rio, I went to the beach to peoplewatch. This time I was seeing the scene through Ghesquière’s eyes. The sun was brighter, the sand was softer and the mood was happy. This trip was just what I needed to restore my faith in Brazil—at least in its rich and inspiring aesthetic. Obrigado, Nicolas! n