Louis Vuitton Collaborates with UK Artist SOPHIE for SS20 Show
UK artist SOPHIE has spent most of her career in the shadows, preferring to stay anonymous. She has produced for the likes of Rihanna, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Charli XCX amongst many others while simultaneously upholding her own solo career. However, as of late, she’s taken the spotlight in more ways than one, shedding her veil of anonymity in the video for her 2017 single It’s Okay to Cry, which was showcased as the centerpiece of Louis Vuitton’s SS20 show.
Nicolas Ghesquière, creative director of Louis Vuitton, was first introduced to SOPHIE through french music video director Woodkid. Inspired by her video, he created the set of the show with the singular purpose of displaying her work. The video features a single continuous shot of SOPHIE with a backdrop of a changing sky landscape, eventually turning into a thunderstorm. Models walked out from the entrance located at the bottom of a vast screen which displayed an alternate, extended version of the song, created specifically for the show. Opposed to the elaborate, ornate scenery we’ve seen from other luxury giants like Chanel and Prada as of late, Louis Vuitton SS20 took a much more minimalistic approach. The show was dedicated solely to displaying the Scottish musician. The wood used in the creation of the set is sourced from sustainably managed forests in France, and is planned to be reused in the future.
In the show itself, models were seen wearing makeup similar to SOPHIE’s own in the music video, with exaggerated red lipstick. A special clutch bag in the shape of a cassette tape, adorned with an elongated extra strap resembling a spool. High-waisted trousers and A-line mini skirts additionally made frequent appearances, with prints intended to resemble stained glass windows. However, in the show as a whole, the clothing pieces were just as important as the set itself, tying together to form a sense of vulnerability, and towards the end of the show, pure catharsis.
The collaboration between the house and the artist further deepens the relationship between music and high fashion. While luxury houses like Louis Vuitton may not be immediately accessible to everyone, music certainly is a medium which can be enjoyed by virtually anybody, allowing the individual to approach the world of fashion from a new perspective. Additionally, it signifies the development of the trend of larger houses looking to smaller artists as inspiration for their works.
Words by Cailan Ferguson