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Louis Vuitton S/S 2020 Menswear

Art / Architecture / Design / Fashion

Louis Vuitton

Spring/Summer 2020 Menswear

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.

Posted May 18th, 2020 By Colby Mugrabi

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.