Eye: Nicholas Ghesquiere Honors Vintage Artistry, Coddington Cats & Leon For Resort 2019

When Nicolas Ghesquière renewed his Louis Vuitton contract at the end of May, his Instagram hashtag #notgoinganywhere made headlines. In a fashion industry spinning almost as fast and potentially out of control as a Donald Trump foreign policy speech, Ghesquière’s decision to remain at LVMH brought a stability-loving sigh pf relief. 

The designer brought his vintage style vintage factor to his 2019 resort collection. Ghesquière said he wanted to pay homage to eccentricity. “What is it today to be an original, [someone] who has her own way of dressing? This bricolage . . . you can start a real movement. I love those people who are eccentric.” 

LV's resort collection took place at the Fondation Maeght in St. Paul-de-Vence.  Against a backdrop of Giacometti sculptures, the designer rolled out the season’s flowing dresses, evening tops with feathers and deconstructed vests. The collection played with artistic contrasts. Leather over-the-knee sneaker-boots clashed with feminine flou, while 80s volumes and prints were put next to boudoir-esque pink satin and lace. Nicolas celebrated a diversity in dressing that was abundant among the artists who settled across the Riviera.

Among the eccentric visions directly honored was Grace Coddington's, who volunteered her cats as part of the show. The red-haired editrix, stylist, creative collaborator and now British Vogue contributor has remixed Louis Vuitton’s iconic monogram with two illustrations of her cats, Pumpkin and Blanket. Coddington’s felines also shard the spotlight with Ghesquière's dog Leon the artistic director. The four-legged trio will be featured on a vacation-ready collection of handbags, leather goods, and ready-to-wear available to shop come October.