Isola Bella on Lake Maggiore served as inspiration for Nicolas Ghesquière’s first performance in Italy.
Lake Maggiore in Italy has been the more discreet neighbor of Lake Como, teeming with celebrities, just as beautiful, but less noisy, more discreet, perhaps the fancy code equivalent of Como’s logomania. But this weekend, the mythical Isola Bella, located on Lake Maggiore, just south of the Swiss Alps, plunged into the world of celebrity, haute couture and dazzling cameras, as it hosted Louis Vuitton’s 2024 cruise show. On Wednesday evening, Nicolas Ghesquière invited visitors to the space to a presentation at the island’s palace, assets of Borromeo’s circle of dynastic relatives since the sixteenth century. The plan was for visitors to watch the mannequins walk along the cobblestone walkways of their Baroque gardens that Edith Wharton once likened to a Renaissance poem. Unfortunately, Mom Nature had other ideas, and the showers moved the presentation to the interior, where you can enjoy it without risk of rain.
Ironically, much of Ghesquière’s collection was created to cope with the precise climate that tormented the presentation. Inspired by the show’s set, the designer presented a diversity of aquatic looks, many of which are made of waterproof neoprene. The models evoked the seacreatures emerging from Lake Maggiore, with pleated fins protruding from the armpits and neck, and glasses in a position for deep-sea diving. According to the program notes, the aim of the offer is “to give birth to new stories, populated by drifting creatures that leave aquatic dwellings to discover terrestrial wonders. “And indeed, one couldn’t help but look to Ariel and her six sisters as role models. In transparent dresses they gave the impression on the catwalk to close the parade, their oscillating skirts bringing lightness to the collection.
As usual, the outstanding visitors were numerous, unfazed in the rain. After showcasing many sustainable Louis Vuitton looks at Cannes last week, Cate Blanchett flew short to northern Italy and watched the display in a gray knee-length dress dressed in a pronounced neckline. and an absolutely open back. He joined through other Louis Vuitton ambassadors, adding Alicia Vikander, Emma Stone and Jennifer Connelly. posed for photographs with Gayle King and Ava Duvernay.
A pre-recorded video allowed those who were unavailable to notice what might have been: a display of mythical fashion in Borromeo’s historic gardens, but the facts proved that the series is equally amphibious by nature to the creatures that animated the clothing. They paint at the water’s edge, on land and also on many long-lasting red carpets.