Nicolas Ghesquière’s Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2025 collection transforms the ephemeral energy of train stations into a wardrobe that speaks to wanderers, dreamers, and those who find beauty in fleeting moments. Set near Paris‘ Gare du Nord, the show unfolded in a renovated train office, its stark waiting area mirrored by digital screens of hurrying travelers – a fitting backdrop for designs that channeled the anonymity and connection of transit.
Ghesquière drew from films like “Brief Encounter” and “2046,” weaving cinematic nostalgia into garments that felt both personal and universal. A wool blanket repurposed as a draped top, rubberized trench coats with ghostly translucency, and velvet skirts crushed like beloved luggage spoke to real and imagined journeys. The lineup embraced contrasts: cargo shorts paired with ruffled blouses, boxy New Wave knits offset by sleek leather jumpsuits. Accessories – hat boxes, violin cases, vanity cases – hinted at stories waiting to unfold.
Above all, the collection nodded to the democratizing spirit of the railroad. Commuter-friendly trenches brushed shoulders with Orient Express-worthy velvet dresses, while a TGV-inspired jumpsuit evoked the utilitarian chic of French train staff in the 1980s. A collaboration with Kraftwerk resulted in graphic t-shirts and bags emblazoned with the band’s “Trans-Europe Express” album cover, fusing retro-futurism with Vuitton’s travel heritage
Ghesquière’s closing gesture – models watching the show from balconies alongside guests – underscored his theme of fashion as a shared human experience. Reissued scarves by Sol LeWitt and a revived ceramic bezel watch by Gae Aulenti from 1988 anchored the collection in timelessness, suggesting that the best journeys leave traces long after arrival.
©Photo: Louis Vuitton