Nicolas Ghesquière brought 'eccentric' to the Louis Vuitton runway.  A brand that sits heavily in their renowned name and classic collections challenged the archives and the current minimalistic-chic styling of today's fashion scene.  Ghesquière's maximalist vision rocked the runway with an exuberant and youthful energy during the 2027 LV Cruise show in New York.

Louis Vuitton Cruise Show 2027

The Big Apple left a lasting impression on Ghesquière after visiting in 1989, while working for Jean Paul Gaultier. His trip to New York was the driving inspiration for this collection. Recalling the loft he stayed at on Lafayette Street, evening dinners at Florent, and crashing artist Francesco Clemente’s party where acclaimed guests like Photographer Helmut

Newton and Supermodel Iman attended. Ghesquière knew that this collection had to be showcased in New York. Taking place in The Frick Collection, a Beaux Art home transformed into a museum recently renovated by German architect Anabelle Selldorf, The Frick Collection is the recipient of a three-year sponsorship with Louis Vuitton, where the fashion house will sponsor the Frick’s monthly free-admission “First Fridays” program commencing in May 2027. They will benefact major upcoming exhibitions, the first being “Siena: The Art of Bronze, 1450–1500,” scheduled from October 2026 to January 2027, and in spring 2027, the Frick will house the first ever exhibition dedicated to French enamel Susanne De Court. While also funding curatorial research positions that focus on artistic exchange between 18th century Europe and China. This collaboration runs deeper than nostalgia and opulent architecture, with the finding and sponsorship from LV the Frick Collections is able to blend the world of fashion and art into one harmonious being. 

Drawing inspiration from the late legendary graffiti-turned-fine-artist Keith Haring, Ghesquière was struck by his mantra about “the accessibility to the exquisite, is really something very important to share still today,”. After onboarding to a complex and unique collection with LV did Ghesquière discover that the French Luxury Fashion House bid (and won) a 1930’s suitcase that Haring had tagged with a black sharpie and given to his roommate back in the 1980s. Ghesquière paid homage to this invisible-string connection between the artist and the fashion house, with the show’s first exit look being  a pair of denim overalls tied around the waist and a simple v-neck cardigan, perfectly wrapped up with a replica of the brown luggage that connected the pair years before.

Nearing the end of the show the “downtown girl” in her crushed fedora, quilted wrestling sneakers and everyday cardigan has transformed into a Gilded Age “cameo” (as called by Ghesquière) coming to life with ruffles swirling around the neckline of her lace and cut-out floral bodice. Nestled between the 56 looks that walked the runway, many of the garments reflected the quintessential New York aesthetic. Hand-printed leather jackets, collectible bags designed to embody yellow taxi cabs and takeout containers, and tying it to the show's location with a top, cape and dress in floral jacquard silk faille that resembled the wallpaper in the museum.

Moldable leather was one of the main fabrics that was used in this collection. Ghesquière and his team used leather that was pliable enough to get interesting textures and silhouettes for their designs. With it being a stiffer material it was easier to achieve cleaner cuts for such eccentric designs. This technique was shown throughout various garments in the show, but some standouts were a Devo-shouldered leather jumpsuit that was accompanied by a moulded leather bag that was modelled after the columns of the Frick’s wintergarden. As well as shoes made from individually piped strips of leather that were sewn together, creating a crossover between a boxing shoe and something straight out of a sci-fi movie. 

Louis Vuitton 2027 Cruise Show

Such a prestigious event called for a noteworthy guestlist. Zendaya, Law Roach, Emma Stone, Cate Blanchett, and Anne Hathaway are among the many celebrities that graced the sidelines of the LV 2027 Cruise show, witnessing this new era of Louis Vuitton unfold. Famous friends of Ghesquière such as Zendaya and Cate Blanchett wore custom garments that were previous LV runway looks. Although many celebs stayed on the sidelines, musician Alana Haim made her runway debut in an embroidered sundress. With his own free spirited vision driven by nostalgia and emotion, Nicolas Ghesquière and Louis Vuitton created a pivotal moment in not only fashion but in culture. 

Anne Hathaway

Law Roach & Zendaya

Alana Haim

Cate Blanchett & Emma Stone