Louis Vuitton’s Cruise 2023 Show Was All About Monograms and Metallic

On a bright, sunny day in California, Louis Vuitton presented its Cruise 2023 show. It was a perfect day yesterday for a runway show at the Salk Institute, which is located in Southern California. With this presentation, Nicolas Ghesquiere continued his ongoing tradition of staging Louis Vuitton’s cruise runway shows at some of the world’s most renowned architectural spaces.

The structure was designed in 1965 by Louis Kahn, and it served as the perfect backdrop for this collection, which was inspired in part by the architectural lines and striking spaces of the Salk Institute. Ghesquière told Vogue that the “guest of honor for the show is the sun,” and the collection’s focus on metallics and glassy elements felt that sentiment, reflecting the light that shone from the setting sun that evening (the show took place at 6:45pm, Paris time). It was nothing short of breathtaking, and it felt like viewing pure art and innovation. While we’re here to talk about the bags, I highly recommend viewing the collection as a whole as well.

Wearable New Bags Fresh from the Louis Vuitton Runway

Now, on to the bags, and there were many that wowed, including new takes on fan favorites like Ghesquiere’s debut bag from Spring 2014, the Petite Malle. For those craving newness, there was plenty of that to be seen as well, like the brand new Trunk Valise Bag (look 15), which is an ode to the House’s historic beginnings as a maker of fine luxury trunks. The traditional shape is shrunken down to fit as a modern handbag. Speaking of trunks, another new silhouette (look 1) is a wearable, relaxed take on the Maison’s historic trunks, reimagined as a soft leather design. Not yet referred to by name, it appears to come in various sizes and fabrications, from metallic leather to the House’s staple Monogram Canvas.

Then, there’s a new flap bag (look 2), which is both more dressed down and wearable at the same time, appearing in both color-blocking and solid metallics with a padded body that is inspired by the European tradition of motorsports. The hardware on this bag looks to be taken from the Petite Malle. Other returning favorites include the Dauphine, Cannes, and Coussin bags, which were toted alongside kitschy bags like a quite literal skateboard on straps and a book…bag?

The collection contained something for everyone, both those looking for wearable bags that can be worn from the runway and beyond to those looking for the outlandish runway designs that make a statement. View bags from the runway below, courtesy of Louis Vuitton.