A Wren Says

So, I watched the Bangkok Louis Vuitton men’s Fall/Winter 2022 show last week. As I watched I took notes on all that I saw. The use of flowers, oversized tailoring, artwork, and a continuation of Abloh’s Boyhood Ideology. I thought to myself that they were making a clear link to the previous show, especially when I saw the same exact model appear as an angel figure. Then I did some digging. Oh, this is not just a clear link. The last show I had seen was the Fall/Winter show. What I had seen was a spin-off.

The spin-off show is essentially a way to take the line to the people. It helps brands increase local engagement and hopefully get more of that local money. What is slightly different about Louis Vuitton’s approach is that they choose to continue on from what was shown at the (typically) Paris main show. In this case, the hope is to engage the people of Thailand who may not have been able to travel to the show in France. By inviting to see a show in person, it would be easier for them to visualize the pieces in their own wardrobe and put in their orders immediately.

What is a spin-off you ask? Well, I asked, because I had only heard the term used in reference to television. Rather than just putting out a completely new line, or just showing all of the same pieces, the designer continues to build on the theme for that season. At this show, there were 9 original looks debuted that Virgil Abloh had designed prior to his passing.

I think it is important to note that this is a practice you will note other brands take part in, note the Dior show in China, likely with the goal of securing the coveted Chinese consumers.

This show was a pre-fall event, hosted in Bangkok. Though it largely involved the same clothes, there were clear differences in the production of this show versus the event in Paris. Part of doing a spin-off, especially in this new time, is relying on the local talent to produce the show. Which would of course lead to a different result.

This show begins with a video of young Thai Boy, ending with the world shifting upside down. That ending continues into the live show as the upside down house is present, as well as a sun that tracks throughout the show. In contrast to Paris, models simply walk throughout the space, without the theatrical performances when the line was first debuted. But because it is still part of the same story, I wanted write out what I thought as I watched. I noticed that ways in which they played with the presentation of masculinity. I know there is danger in assuming the artist’s intent, but this is what spoke to me.

Oversized tailoring: Blazers with exaggerated shoulders were paired with still slim lines through the leg. It reminded me of a young boy who was playing dress-up in his father’s clothes, imagining the man he might be one day.

Those are my thoughts, and I am very uninformed. I will take some time to look up what it actually meant. If you’re curious, here is a piece on Complex about the meanings, as they were looped in on the Paris show. They don’t get in to metaphors, but you mind find it useful. I’d still like to know, what did you think?

You can watch the Paris show here and the Bangkok show here.

Reference:

Socha, M. (Nov. 15, 2021). EXCLUSIVE: Here’s Why Louis Vuitton Is Staging Spin-off Shows in Shanghai, Miami. WWD. https://wwd.com/fashion-news/designer-luxury/louis-vuitton-shanghai-miami-show-spin-off-1234993839/