Louis Vuitton unveiled its Cruise 2026 collection at the iconic Cour d’Honneur within Avignon’s Palais des Papes yesterday evening.
Under the direction of Nicolas Ghesquière, the latest collection from Louis Vuitton delves into the emotional and expressive nature of clothing.
The house tackled an ambitious question through the staging and execution of the show: Is clothing confined to the realms of function and decoration, or can it possess an inherent artistic value that speaks to identity and experience?
Arguably, the Cour d’Honneur at the heart of the Palais des Papes was a smart choice for the location of this presentation. A revered space steeped in nearly a thousand years of history, which the house itself describes as a “cultural laboratory.”
On the runway, the intersection of art, identity and fashion was explored through sumptuous, rich fabrics and bold silhouettes, across ultra-structured mini shift dresses, micro shorts and wool cape coats.
Of course, as is de rigueur with LV, there were nods to the historic setting too – floral patterns inspired by medieval manuscripts and colour-blocked shapes resembling suits of armour.
Ultimately, the latest offering from Ghesquière was a celebration of the fact that when we embrace ideas – fashion, identity and art – through a prism rather than monolithic thinking, we are usually rewarded with something even better.
Highlights from the show:
The set at the Cour d’Honneur, Palais des Papes in Avignon, France
