Louis Vuitton designer Nicolas Ghesquière typically selects an architectural masterpiece as the backdrop for his resort collections, and Barcelona’s Park Güell, the fairy-tale park designed by modernist architect Antoni Gaudi, ticked all the boxes for his cruise 2025 show.
At the golden hour, a battalion of celebrities including Sophie Turner, Ana de Armas, Jaden Smith, Phoebe Dynevor, Naomi Osaka and K-pop star Felix gathered for preshow cocktails at the hillside venue known for its serpentine benches covered in colorful mosaic fragments.
“It’s huge and it’s spectacular,” said Cynthia Erivo. “All the shapes and the sculptures on the rooftops are wild and whimsical. It’s really, really beautiful.”
The “Wicked” star said she loves seeing the traveling collection alight in different destinations.
“It’s really special because you get to see what has inspired the pieces that will come down the runway, and combining sculpture and structure with pieces that are usually structural feels really inspired. It feels really ‘kismet.’ I like the combination of a place and a piece together,” she said.
As dusk fell, guests were ushered into the Hypostyle Room, where benches snaked around a forest of Doric-style columns. The surreal setting proved a fitting backdrop for a lineup that zoomed between ‘80s couture references and equestrian touches.
Ghesquière gave the collection a distinct Spanish flavor, with a “sombra y sol” palette that played out in monochrome silhouettes, many topped with graphic sombrero hats. He sprinkled flamenco-inspired polka dots and glossy fringe into his signature architectural looks, but steered well clear of pastiche.
Rather, the show — with its soundtrack combining Gary Numan’s “Music for Chameleons” with Malcolm McLaren’s “Madame Butterfly” — suggested a mood.
Think Barcelona’s gilded youth heading to a black-tie party circa 1986. Ghesquière played with that era’s exaggerated volumes with jewel-colored satin pouf dresses and tiered puffball skirts. Jodhpurs came with flouncy draped hips, while metallic floral embroideries echoed Gaudi’s swirling organic designs.
For cocktails and polo matches, he offered tailored jackets with power shoulders and sleek jumpsuits with crisscross pocket belts, or riding pants paired with draped tops and shaggy fringed boots that are sure to be at the top of stylists’ wish lists.
Ghesquière’s vision of Spain was as strange and twisty as Barcelona’s colorful facades, and it was just as well.
Vuitton is making it presence felt in the city ahead of sailing’s biggest event, the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Barcelona, which kicks off in late summer. A dedicated capsule collection, unveiled last week, will cover all the sporting needs of the brand’s customers.
For pure escapism, this was just the right trip.
