Paris has been abuzz this morning with talks of a certain former Balenciaga designer taking the reins at Louis Vuitton.
It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks for the fashion house — first, with the critically-acclaimed showgirl-inspired Paris Fashion Week show and then Marc Jacobs’ subsequent departure to focus on his own namesake company’s IPO. After much speculation on Marc’s legacy and who he passed the torch to, we’re willing to place our bets on Nicolas Ghesquière taking helm at Louis Vuitton.
After the very public (and incredibly messy) split from Balenciaga, Ghesquière has been MIA for the past several seasons. Largely credited for bringing Balenciaga into the large consumer eye (he was the one who coaxed executives to produce and stock the now-iconic Balenciaga City bag), his departure from the house was marked with Alexander Wang’s arrival, and a decidedly new aesthetic. If you ask us, it is only a matter of time before the Balenciaga brainchild finds a new home in Marc’s former stomping grounds.
Ghesquière is credited for bringing Balenciaga into the large consumer eye
We’re particularly looking forward to seeing how Ghesquière can help Louis Vuitton find its niche in the luxury market. The counterfeiters that have plagued the house for years have holed LV into a seemingly impossible dilemma: too expensive for the everyday consumer, yet seemingly not exclusive enough for A-list clients. Ghesquière has the delicate task of helping the house find the balance between the two or, if he so chooses, focusing on one over the other (we’re going with the latter).
From the design perspective, we’re eager to see how the French designer can create new iconic pieces for the brand: moto leather biker jackets, lampshade skirts, and equestian inspired pieces were, after all, his signature at his former place of employment. There’s also the question of a style muse: Sofia Coppola currently encapsulates the house, while Ghesquière preferred French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg. Will it be a battle of the indie darlings or will there be a new face to front the 159-year-old brand?
We’re waiting with baited breath, Ghesquière.
