Portfolio Louis Vuitton

Creative Direction: Dané Stojanovic
Photography: Paul Morel
Fashion Direction: Marne Schwartz
Grooming: Giulio Panciera
Models: Callum Stoddart, Toni Engonga, Tom Hughes & Lorenzo Sutto / IMG Milan
Words: Rebekah Clark

Louis Vuitton Men’s Spring/Summer 2021 was aptly titled “Zoooom With Friends”. For the most part, the collection was viewed virtually amid the pandemic. Only those who resided in Shanghai, China were in attendance. The French house’s visionary for the collection, Virgil Abloh, was even forced to battle the time zones and tune in through video. And we can only imagine the 119-strong looks were ultimately conceptualised over Zoom.

As expected from the American designer and following past collections, SS21 was a fine balance of archival pieces, era-inspired silhouettes and a punchy colour palette made only for the brave. What was considered bolder was Abloh’s choice to continue with formalwear and hype-looks when his luxury house counterparts were regressing into more wearable work-from-home attires.

Tailored pants are presented in bold washes of stark red, deep blue and bright white. Shoulders are strong and domineering, jacket lines are long; reminiscent of Michael Jordan’s 90s off-duty blazers – but crisper. Three-piece suits in checkerboard print and hot pink sound a new era of formalwear. Jewellery is replaced with plush toys clutching to leathergoods. And everything, is paired with sneakers.

Six months on from the extravagant runway and the world is emerging from lockdown. This new-world order may still require tedious Zoom meetings, scaled-back events and social distancing, but our thirst for excess in style still wanes. And our opportunity to wear such drip is ready for a rebirth.