Yesterday, the buzz that had been circulating was finally confirmed just ahead of this morning’s Louis Vuitton menswear show: Kim Jones, the Men’s Artistic Director, is stepping down after a successful seven-year run. Renowned for his visionary grasp of streetwear’s ascent into high fashion, Jones made waves last season with the wildly successful Supreme x Louis Vuitton collaboration, a veritable dream for hype-beasts everywhere. While that collaboration might have seemed like the perfect finale, today’s show made it clear he had more to say.
In his show notes, Jones reflected on “Discovering something new. A constant voyage,” with a transient theme woven into the collection, featuring garments designed to “travel on the body.” The concept of travel, a recurring motif for Jones at Vuitton, ties back to the brand’s heritage in luxury luggage. The standout print was a stunning aerial photograph of Kenya, symbolizing the high luxury and the relentless pace at the helm of a global luxury brand.
The venue buzzed with energy, filled with friends, fans from London, and a star-studded front row including Virgil Abloh, Olivier Rousteing, Grace Wales Bonner, Craig Green, and Vuitton regulars David and Victoria Beckham with their son Brooklyn. The runway’s biggest surprise was the appearance of Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss, clad in new Glazed Monogram raincoats and little else, followed by in-house fit model Dominik Sadoch in a glazed Monogram denim suit.
Jones’s departure marks the end of an era at Vuitton, yet it also heralds a new chapter, as noted in the show’s conclusion: “It is an overview, a fresh perspective. Looking forward, to new horizons.” Speculation about Jones’s successor continues to swirl.