Discovering the true soul of Louis Vuitton

LV’s latest collection is a little bit ’80s material girl and ’90s utilitarian grunge in an otherwise very 1930s ladylike repertoire; as though Bette Davis adventurously decided to take some styling advice from Madonna.

Volez! Voguez! Voyagez!’ These motivating French words splashed across a vintage Louis Vuitton advertisement poster summarize the spirit of the brand and its latest womens’s pre fall 2014 and fail/winter 2014 Icones Collection.

Literally translated as“Fly! Sail! Travel!”, it’s a message that seems plain enough.

However, the French words take on a double-entendre mean- ing, pushing women to spread their wings, take off, wander, discover — to live life every day with the spirit of adventure by donning a jacket reminiscent of the mountain climbers in the Alps or a sexy thigh-high fishnet boot with trompe l’oeil shoe attached to offset an otherwise

demure appearance. Last week in Hong Kong, Louis Vuitton pre-

viewed its latest collections as well as launched its travel pop-up store “L’Aventure.” This season is a rather interesting moment for the brand, which is currently in transition between designers — the exiting Marc Jacobs and the much-awaited arrival of Nicholas Ghesquière. Both collections, I felt, were aptly timeless, crystallizing the strength and power of the brand regardless of the designer by taking lush fabrics in rich deep colors to create a look of classic staples in nonchalant shapes. A slightly voluminous coat, belted at the waist, capes and modest skirts, slouchy trousers and fur trims: the image of a strong, powerful woman, who makes smart decisions yet enjoys a bit of mischief, both traits reflected in her wardrobe. A tribute to what Louis Vuitton stands for, most of the pieces from both collections could have easily come from the set of Doctor Zhivago and yet still be worn a good 20 years from now: investment pieces that never go out of style.

The pre-fall 2014 collection is punctuated with modern elements — a flash of sequined graffiti, a shocking strip of fuchsia, a chunky gold knuckle duster — it’s a little bit ‘80s material girl and ‘90s utilitarian grunge in an otherwise very 1930s ladylike repertoire; as though Bette Davis ad- venturously decided to take some styling advice from Madonna and Courtney Love, infusing only the most fun elements and managing to keep an overall look of elegance and chic.

Along a similar line of nonchalant elegance is their reinvention of the 1958 design Lockit bag. The otherwise structured feminine bag recreated in supple Veau Cashmere leather now takes on a more relaxed aesthetic. Available in neutral colors like black and beige Galet or in deep purple Questche, a standout Framboise or delicate Magnolia, it’s equally smart when worn with boy- friend jeans and a white T-shirt or with a tailored pantsuit. This is not your typical fashionable “It” bag, but one that transcends seasons: timeless.

My personal favorite however is LV’s fall/ winter 2014-2015 Icones Collection. Inspired by the original “slasher,” Charlotte Perriand, who was an architect, designer, urban planner and photographer. Famously working with the iconic Le Corbusier and Jean Prouvé, she was also a traveler and a trailblazer, flying to Japan to serve as an official adviser for industrial design to the Ministry for Trade and Industry; then consequently being exiled to Vietnam during the Second World War, from where she took much inspiration for the rest of her life. Perriand’s leftist leanings influenced her work, creating furniture that was affordable, functional and appealing to the masses.

Perriand’s free-spirited yet determined nature is embodied in this so- phisticated collection anchored in simplicity and utility. Having spent much time in the Alps during the years she designed the resorts in Les Arcs, Savoie and Meribel in Les Trois Vallées, Vuitton’s fall/winter collection draws from the traditional garments of les alpinistes — soft knits, leather buckles, furry boots, zipped pants, checked fabric in deep hunter green, burgundy and midnight blue offset by wintry whites and beiges reminiscent of the natural surroundings and completely in tune with Perriand’s philosophy on the art of living: “The extension of the art of dwelling is the art of liv- ing, living in harmony with man’s deepest drives and with his adopted or fabricated environment.”

One can imagine long walks in the mountains, winding through un- marked paths lined with snow-covered trees. The crunch of fallen branches beneath your boots and the invigorating cold wind in contrast with a bright clear, sunny winter’s sky. It doesn’t matter where you go or what the final destination is; all that matters is that each step is taken with authority and confidence and that the journey itself is pleasurable.

That, in summary, is the true soul of Louis Vuitton, the French luxury fashion house that had its beginnings as a malletier creating durable, stylish trunks and luggage destined to house everything one needs to fulfill man’s thirst for voyage and discovery. To truly understand this, a visit to their pop-up store L’Aventure is a must. Dedicated entirely to the art of travel and celebrating elegance on the move, showcasing unique pieces such as trunk beds for African safaris, monogrammed cases carrying baccarat decanters and glasses for an on-the-go tipple in globetrotting style. From personalization and custom orders, to learn- ing the art of packing, to their stylish city guides, L’Aventure hopes to inspire people to pack up their bags and indulge in the fulfilling luxury of travel. Whether that means buying a ticket to Timbuktu or purchas- ing a guide to Shanghai or that gorgeous cape that reminds you of the Alps, the point is to keep on fuelling your wanderlust. And as Robert Louis Stevenson said, “I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.”

And whenever possible, I prefer to do it stylishly.

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In the Philippines, Louis Vuitton has a shop in Greenbelt 4 with telephone 756-0637.