Experimental, liberating, and sentimental—Louis Vuitton closed off Paris Fashion Week at their traditional venue with graphic prints, an expansive color range, and shrunken hemlines. Drawing inspiration from the Parisian Belle Époque period, this collection matches 19th-century art with desirable modern cuts and day-to-day practicality. Creative Director Nicolas Ghesquière completed the ambiance at the picturesque Louvre’s Cour Courée with a music video projection of Scottish transgender musician Sophie surrounded by pastel skies, trumpeting a message of self-acceptance and confidence.

Lavish in color palette and fabrics, Ghesquière said this collection sifted through ideas of “dandyism, and those particular snobberies that would later become what is known as French elegance.” Nostalgia and tender affection for the French sartorial history resulted in layered and mismatched prints, and colorful takes on suit sets—presenting one of the fashion house’s most experimental collections yet. Sweater vests and structured, ruffle-tucked miniskirts also made an appearance, frequently paired with an array of sensible sandals and stout block heels, foreshadowing a season of effortless motion. Brooches resembling pressed flowers accessorized several looks, serving as a homage to the brand’s iconic floral emblem. Leather bags in new patterns and reinvented silhouettes topped off looks in their iconic LV manner, with a trickle of gemstones and braided chain strap details.

Driven by the desire to explore, this collection reimagines luxury garments in an almost futuristic setting—a motif echoed by a dreamlike backdrop that defied binary concepts of gender and transcends notions of age in fashion. With garments that perpetuate innovation and freedom paired with the messages of Sophie’s song, Louis Vuitton SS20 encourages experimentation and reinvention by drawing from the past.