Louis Vuitton Cruise 2026 show in Avignon: Nicolas Ghesquière wows front-row guests Cate Blanchett, Emma Stone with ‘female knights' and courtly theme
Barely three weeks before the unveiling of the collection, the Catholic Church named a new pope, Leo XIV, the first American pontiff in history.
Built in less than 20 years starting in 1335, the Palais des Papes became a temporary papal residence during a time of turmoil in the Vatican in the XIV century. Considered one of the most important Gothic buildings in Europe, the palace hosted six conclaves, and was named a Unesco World Heritage site in 1995.
Advertisement
Louis Vuitton's Nicolas Ghesquière takes a bow at the Cruise 2026 show in Avignon. Photo: Reuters
The grandeur and history of the papacy, however, were not on Louis Vuitton's womenswear artistic director
Nicolas Ghesquière' s mind when he picked the landmark as a backdrop for the unveiling of the collection.
Since 1947 the palace has been home to the Festival d'Avignon, one of France's most celebrated cultural events.
In an interview before the show, the designer recalled attending the festival at the age of 29, when he saw artists such as Icelandic singer Björk and German dancer Pina Bausch perform on stage. He called the experience of being surrounded by so much culture as a young man 'a game changer in my aesthetic as a designer'.
A dress inspired by a medieval coat of arms. Photo: Agence France-Presse
The collection was a homage to the costumes and stage outfits of those performers. Other references included the armours of medieval knights, the tapestries decorating the interior of the Palais des Papes – and even the legend of Excalibur, the magic sword of King Arthur.
Accessories ranged from open-toed boots heavily embellished with mirror fragments and crystals to Louis Vuitton's signature bags such as the Alma and the Petit Malle decorated with Gothic motifs. Three boxy bags made of wood were the result of a collaboration between Louis Vuitton and Paris-based independent designer Thomas Rogers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- South China Morning Post
Orange Era? All about the colour linked to Taylor Swift's new album
Taylor Swift swathed her bombshell new album announcement this week in a shade she is calling Portofino Orange Glitter after donning the colour onstage during the latter part of her latest tour. Will The Life of a Showgirl usher in the pop star's Orange Era? On her boyfriend Travis Kelce's New Heights podcast, Swift leaned toward a yes. 'I've just always liked it,' she said. 'It feels like kind of energetically how my life has felt. And this album is about what was going on behind the scenes in my inner life during this tour.' In all its glory, the colour can evoke creativity, enthusiasm, energy, optimism and more. Swift performs at the Paris La Defense Arena during her Eras Tour concert in Paris, on May 9, 2024. Photo: AP While some see a downside in the brighter hues, perceiving them as clownish or silly, orange is more often exuberant or inviting, colour experts said. The positive sentiments are precisely how Swift described the mood she wanted to capture on the album: 'so exuberant and electric and vibrant'.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Style Edit: Henry Jacques' Les Croisières fragrances distil a memory of summer
As the season begins to turn, those seeking to remain enveloped in summer's warm embrace need only turn to master perfumer Henry Jacques' Les Croisières – a library of six fragrances that capture the mood like the last of the season's wine. The fragrances are drawn from Henry Jacques' Les Classiques range – the house's foundational collection – and presented as Les Brumes, lighter versions specifically for misting or splashing. The ample size of each 75ml flacon encourages generous, playful applications – on leaving the poolside, heading for sundowners, or just lying on the deck of a yacht. To create Les Croisières, Henry Jacques drew inspiration from the unmistakable olfactory repertoire of summer – white flowers, citrus and the like – expressing them in the form of lighter essences, which suit the season better than the intensely concentrated extracts known to perfumers as 'absolutes'. Advertisement Henry Jacques Les Brumes Ambrose. Photo: Handout Les Croisières collection is also designed to envelop the wearer throughout an entire day, from indulgent morning to tranquil afternoon and on into sultry evenings. By its nature, summer is a season busy with social engagements while also offering soporific sessions of restful me time (preferably with a book and hammock). For every mood and occasion, there is an appropriate fragrance from Les Croisières. Les Brumes Musk Oil Gardenia. Photo: Handout Perfect for daybreak, the delicate and almost powdery Musk Oil Gardenia combines its namesake flower with ylang-ylang and musk in a comforting fragrance that evokes sunlight falling through curtains and the promise of a relaxed day. Henry Jacques Les Brumes Aude. Photo: Handout For wearers who like more active mornings, Henry Jacques presents Aude. Top notes of white florals and mirabelle plum give way to a heart of sandalwood and jasmine, then a base of white musk, amber and the faintest hint of tobacco. Evocative of fresh breezes and sea air, Aude conveys freedom and adventure.
South China Morning Post
10-08-2025
- South China Morning Post
Michael B. Jordan's luxury watch collection, from Rolex and Tiffany & Co. to Richard Mille
Michael B. Jordan, 38, is no stranger to transformation, whether he's bulking up to play a champion boxer in Creed, tapping into his villainous side for Black Panther, or shape-shifting into a blues-loving vampire in this summer's surprise hit, Sinners. It's almost hard to believe that the same actor who played the baby-faced kid-turned-drug-dealer Wallace in HBO's The Wire has become one of Hollywood's most bankable leading men. Actor and director Michael B. Jordan at the Creed III photocall at Le Grand Rex in February 2023, in Paris, France. Advertisement But it's not just his acting that's evolved – his sense of style has, too. Once too broke to even think about luxury watches, Jordan told Robb Report, 'It wasn't really something I had been introduced to … but then over time, the more I had to dress up, it was something that I realised was a vital piece of fashion.' Today, he's a fully-fledged watch guy – 'hooked', as he puts it – on the one accessory he can't live without. Here are a few stand-outs from Michael B. Jordan's luxury watch collection. Piaget Altiplano 40mm Chronograph Actor Michael B. Jordan backstage at the 88th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in February 2016, in Hollywood, California. Jordan has had a long-standing relationship with Piaget, even acting as an ambassador for the Swiss watchmaker for several years. If his red carpet appearances are anything to go by, he seems to have a soft spot for its Altiplano line, a collection known for its ultra-thin face and tailored aesthetic. At the 2016 Oscars, for instance, he wore the newly released Piaget Altiplano Chronograph in white gold, paired with matching white gold cufflinks from the prestigious maison Piaget Polo 7131 Michael B. Jordan speaks on stage during a Creed III event at AMC Madison Yards 8 in October 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia. As a friend of the brand, the actor has also had access to some rare pieces from the Piaget archives, including this vintage Piaget Polo 7131 from 1979. Crafted in 18k yellow gold, this 25mm unisex design was revolutionary for its time, aligning with the era's boundary-pushing shifts in fashion, culture and society. Small and understated but big on style, it was a stylish choice for Jordan to wear during the Creed III press tour back in 2022. Richard Mille RM 72-01 Le Mans Classic
