Loli Bahia, Mona Tougaard walk for Louis Vuitton in Italy

Part-Arab models Loli Bahia and Mona Tougaard this week walked the runway for renowned French luxury label Louis Vuitton’s cruise show on the Italian island Isola Bella.

Bahia, who is French Algerian, wore a printed set, while Tougaard, who is of Turkish, Somali and Ethiopian descent, wore a white dress with feather and floral detailing.

Lebanese Australian model, actress and humanitarian Jessica Kahawaty attended the starstudded event that also included Catherine Deneuve, Cate Blanchett and Emma Stone. Kahawaty, who wore a green embroidered mini dress, took to Instagram to share pictures of her look and to tell her fans that 2023 marks her 10th year working with the brand.

“A lot of people don’t know this but it’s my 10th year anniversary of being a friend of the house for Louis Vuitton,” she wrote to her 1.3 million followers. “It was my first few months in Dubai when Haya Khdar, who was the PR for LV back then, came up to me in a mall event in 2013 and said ‘Who are you? I want you on the cover of a magazine for Louis Vuitton.’”

“It was since that day that the brand gave me so much — from experiences and four magazine covers to our global UNICEF campaign for Syrian refugees and not to mention countless travels from San Diego, France and Italy to Jordan,” she recalled. “Happy to be in Isola Bella for the 2024 cruise show.”

Nicolas Ghesquiere, the label’s artistic director, sent models through the ornate, high-ceilinged rooms of the 17th-century palazzo in eclectic, futuristic creations for which he is celebrated.

Some looks recalled scuba gear adorned with avant garde ruffling, while others felt like fencers’ uniforms, protective with thick quilting over the chest.

Fabric was cinched tight like an accordion at the bodice of a sleeveless dress with color blocks in royal blue and yellow gold, imparting texture and movement, while a shiny black dress came with a drawstring neckline that called to mind a popular handbag by the brand.

Sweaters became more airy with a translucent stripe at the midriff, while three chiffon

Loli Bahia wore a printed set. Getty Images

Inset: Jessica Kahawaty attended the star-studded event. Instagram gowns cut on the bias — in dusty pink, sea green and baby blue — sported exaggerated puffy sleeves worthy of the Edwardian age.