Virgil Abloh brought us something in his Spring/Summer Menswear collection for Louis Vuitton that feels perhaps more desirable now than ever: a bouquet of fresh spring flowers, the purity associated with childhood, and new beginnings.
Naturally, in communicating spring on the runway, pastels were among the first colors to meet the eye - and they remained prevalent throughout the show - while Alboh also brought us the likes of sun hats, garden gloves, and trench coats. As the show continued, florals grew more prevalent in a variety of formats and brighter colors were introduced. In this bold shift, a collection that started as a springtime take on a refined aesthetic, began bursting with creative detail and unique structural choices added mainly through outerwear and accessories.
The graceful fluidity of the collection's breezy garments echoed the fluidity of gender in what might be considered traditionally “feminine” colors and florals. Then, of course, this gentle structure is counterbalanced by geometry. First, we might unpack (pun intended) Abloh’s use of the triangle bag; highlighting the leather goods in this show seems to be the new creative director’s way of honoring the great history of the Louis Vuitton house. Many of them have a vintage trunk-like feel with a fresh, modern spin. Moreover, in addition to its geometrical structure that physically offsets the loose garments, the triangle is traditionally known to represent strength. In this way, perhaps Abloh’s leather goods bring an element of strength to the youthful sense of optimism at play throughout the collection.
Kites (and kite-like inspirations) were another way that Abloh geniously incorporated physical structure while honoring a childish sense of play. They were featured in coats and backpacks that looked like a nod to the designer’s streetwear roots, which wass also seen in his incorporation of drawstrings and straps, or in a more traditional sense, through hoodies and sneakers. In these ways, Abloh’s work at Louis Vuitton continues to act as a bridge between high fashion and the street, which is achieved through the elegant presentation of artistry, craftsmanship, and approachable silhouetees that have defined his tenure thus far at Louis Vuitton.
![Lv ss 2020 menswear muse board](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/usQ02HyckoHIxzXn8Ryny/5e122d73a38b850bedc46d2110fa4b7c/LV_SS_2020_Menswear_Muse_Board.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
References
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Portrait of Salvador Dalí
1979
![159c7435 6c34 4d3c b9b6 ed5e611f595d](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2abfvvIKA651sj0obnDPSI/c7c1e8609c1841d2611ee74f41246e3a/_159c7435-6c34-4d3c-b9b6-ed5e611f595d.jpg)
Christo
Wrapped Jerry Can, 1961
![Christo wrapped jerry can 1961](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5EjmhC9SzoOdvJSvL82WoJ/02c4ef49d7a4f45afa09d0c41b00d1e9/Christo__Wrapped_Jerry_Can__1961.jpg)
Dennis Oppenheim
Impersonation Station, 1988
![dennis oppenheim impersonation station 1988](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6X8wEhblwCXUkJ7RiZXahm/5ce6843784bafa42140e5b6514b42d3a/_Dennis_Oppenheim_Impersonation_Station_-_1988.jpg)
Jim Hodges
With the Wind, 1997
![Jim hodges with the wind 1997](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3fFtFgR7FSISTBZDZykMWP/fecc64295b1db2b6641a738b38dd5012/JIm_Hodges__With_the_Wind__1997.jpg)
Craig Green
Fall/Winter 2012
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Paolo Lomazzi, Donato D'Urbino, Jonathan De Pas
Blow Inflatable Armchair, 1972
![Paolo lomazzi donato d urbino jonathan de pas blow inflatable armchair 1972](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5hQsGPpidrjTeZLUxY93ns/e0a859c952c4970a8e96768cc87841a2/Paolo_Lomazzi__Donato_D_Urbino__Jonathan_De_Pas__BLow_INflatable_Armchair__1972.jpg)
Dan Colen
Infinite Jest, 2012
![Dan colen infinite jest 2012](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/qzPssbntVhuSM0bxP3itu/3c20cd77be55f2fdffcf211cba3779db/Dan_Colen__Infinite_Jest__2012.jpg)
Vanity Fair
Four of The New York Five (left to right, Michael Graves, Charles Gwathmey, Richard Meier, Peter Eisenman), 1996
![four of the new york five left to right michael graves charles gwathmey richard meier peter eisenman with john hejdu](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4uJbcfOLyObrNcCnPxyx7F/1d3925122aef087bf6994175be82886a/__Four_of_The_New_York_Five__left_to_right__Michael_Graves__Charles_Gwathmey__Richard_Meier__Peter_Eisenman__with_John_Hejdu.jpg)
Christopher Kane
Spring/Summer 2012
![Chrisstopher kane spring summer 2012](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3Sq8Ici1yenTkzUjidmlFn/1d84f222bb8bdf2267dc28c2192b53f0/Chrisstopher_Kane_Spring_Summer_2012.jpg)
Craig Green
Spring/Summer 2015
Dan Colen
Everybody's Gonna Die, 2014
![Dan colen everybody s gonna die 2014](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2QkHqy1C1HI4sNPtZuhRb6/9509b035357886c7582f530e573ba8bb/Dan_Colen__Everybody_s_Gonna_Die__2014.jpeg)
Frank Gehry
Vitra Design Museum, 1989
![Frank gehry vitra design museum 1989](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4sKdAuVklgxuBLQqlYDWDU/0d06710160a8527dfe065b9fd066408e/Frank_Gehry__Vitra_Design_Museum__1989.jpg)
Jeff Koon
Puppy, 1992
![Jeff koon puppy 1992](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/67545aKux5Kyr0ceuURKAt/1a91c22ac43fb57f9a7b37df7be5a57c/Jeff_Koon__Puppy__1992.jpg)
Yves Saint Laurent
Spring/Summer 2008
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Louis Eisner
Danish Standard VI (I), 2014
![Louis eisner danish standard vi i 2014](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2BpNHHqlbOjryOuoUTwpSx/d2d0792936dccb78bd5adc6a3f927eed/Louis_Eisner__Danish_Standard_VI__I___2014.jpg)
Michael Webb
Cushicle, 1967
![Michael webb of archigram group with his full size model of the cushicle 1967](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/0GOY1rFbwpuDlQku9SgWp/6d4b7f6515e6d9a3c8f09a4aa0588459/Michael_Webb_of_Archigram_Group__With_his_full-size_model_of_the__Cushicle___1967.jpg)
Paul McCarthy
White Snow, Balloon Dog, 2013
![Paul mccarthy white snow balloon dog 2013](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1s2afjo6ACb6i4AUd5sLFE/c2a07b596b0ef692e77167aa166a2ec1/Paul_McCarthy__White_Snow__Balloon_Dog__2013.jpg)
Richard Diebenkorn
Ocean Park #24, 1969
![Richard diebenkorn ocean park 24 1969](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/mxRzNYQDlWNbFKtTZqHb2/6f52becccec1533f52d259ecc58c6fa0/Richard_Diebenkorn__Ocean_Park__24__1969.jpg)
References
![159c7435 6c34 4d3c b9b6 ed5e611f595d](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2abfvvIKA651sj0obnDPSI/c7c1e8609c1841d2611ee74f41246e3a/_159c7435-6c34-4d3c-b9b6-ed5e611f595d.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Portrait of Salvador Dalí
1979
1 of 18
![Christo wrapped jerry can 1961](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5EjmhC9SzoOdvJSvL82WoJ/02c4ef49d7a4f45afa09d0c41b00d1e9/Christo__Wrapped_Jerry_Can__1961.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Christo
Wrapped Jerry Can, 1961
2 of 18
![dennis oppenheim impersonation station 1988](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6X8wEhblwCXUkJ7RiZXahm/5ce6843784bafa42140e5b6514b42d3a/_Dennis_Oppenheim_Impersonation_Station_-_1988.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Dennis Oppenheim
Impersonation Station, 1988
3 of 18
![Jim hodges with the wind 1997](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3fFtFgR7FSISTBZDZykMWP/fecc64295b1db2b6641a738b38dd5012/JIm_Hodges__With_the_Wind__1997.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Jim Hodges
With the Wind, 1997
4 of 18
![Craig green fall winter 2012](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7A37E4XLnuczSEtxlOcc1u/16a02b3315851454e9865ecc37afb3b0/Craig_Green_Fall_Winter_2012.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Craig Green
Fall/Winter 2012
5 of 18
![Paolo lomazzi donato d urbino jonathan de pas blow inflatable armchair 1972](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5hQsGPpidrjTeZLUxY93ns/e0a859c952c4970a8e96768cc87841a2/Paolo_Lomazzi__Donato_D_Urbino__Jonathan_De_Pas__BLow_INflatable_Armchair__1972.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Paolo Lomazzi, Donato D'Urbino, Jonathan De Pas
Blow Inflatable Armchair, 1972
6 of 18
![Dan colen infinite jest 2012](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/qzPssbntVhuSM0bxP3itu/3c20cd77be55f2fdffcf211cba3779db/Dan_Colen__Infinite_Jest__2012.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Dan Colen
Infinite Jest, 2012
7 of 18
![four of the new york five left to right michael graves charles gwathmey richard meier peter eisenman with john hejdu](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4uJbcfOLyObrNcCnPxyx7F/1d3925122aef087bf6994175be82886a/__Four_of_The_New_York_Five__left_to_right__Michael_Graves__Charles_Gwathmey__Richard_Meier__Peter_Eisenman__with_John_Hejdu.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Vanity Fair
Four of The New York Five (left to right, Michael Graves, Charles Gwathmey, Richard Meier, Peter Eisenman), 1996
8 of 18
![Chrisstopher kane spring summer 2012](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3Sq8Ici1yenTkzUjidmlFn/1d84f222bb8bdf2267dc28c2192b53f0/Chrisstopher_Kane_Spring_Summer_2012.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Christopher Kane
Spring/Summer 2012
9 of 18
Craig Green
Spring/Summer 2015
10 of 18
![Dan colen everybody s gonna die 2014](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2QkHqy1C1HI4sNPtZuhRb6/9509b035357886c7582f530e573ba8bb/Dan_Colen__Everybody_s_Gonna_Die__2014.jpeg?w=1000&q=70)
Dan Colen
Everybody's Gonna Die, 2014
11 of 18
![Frank gehry vitra design museum 1989](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4sKdAuVklgxuBLQqlYDWDU/0d06710160a8527dfe065b9fd066408e/Frank_Gehry__Vitra_Design_Museum__1989.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Frank Gehry
Vitra Design Museum, 1989
12 of 18
![Jeff koon puppy 1992](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/67545aKux5Kyr0ceuURKAt/1a91c22ac43fb57f9a7b37df7be5a57c/Jeff_Koon__Puppy__1992.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Jeff Koon
Puppy, 1992
13 of 18
![Yves saint laurnet spring summer 2008](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2Q004BShNQVAGR9evnUoF5/c6c524297395fa8c2b18c7b7a7b99b5b/Yves_Saint_Laurnet__Spring_Summer_2008.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Yves Saint Laurent
Spring/Summer 2008
14 of 18
![Louis eisner danish standard vi i 2014](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2BpNHHqlbOjryOuoUTwpSx/d2d0792936dccb78bd5adc6a3f927eed/Louis_Eisner__Danish_Standard_VI__I___2014.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Louis Eisner
Danish Standard VI (I), 2014
15 of 18
![Michael webb of archigram group with his full size model of the cushicle 1967](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/0GOY1rFbwpuDlQku9SgWp/6d4b7f6515e6d9a3c8f09a4aa0588459/Michael_Webb_of_Archigram_Group__With_his_full-size_model_of_the__Cushicle___1967.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Michael Webb
Cushicle, 1967
16 of 18
![Paul mccarthy white snow balloon dog 2013](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1s2afjo6ACb6i4AUd5sLFE/c2a07b596b0ef692e77167aa166a2ec1/Paul_McCarthy__White_Snow__Balloon_Dog__2013.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Paul McCarthy
White Snow, Balloon Dog, 2013
17 of 18
![Richard diebenkorn ocean park 24 1969](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/mxRzNYQDlWNbFKtTZqHb2/6f52becccec1533f52d259ecc58c6fa0/Richard_Diebenkorn__Ocean_Park__24__1969.jpg?w=1000&q=70)