Virgil Abloh Breaks the Rules, Louis Vuitton Men’s SS22 by Aybuke Barkcin

 

Dear Shaded Viewers,

For his latest collection at Louis Vuitton, Virgil Abloh envisions a future that breaks down gender codes of dressing, calling for a human approach in fashion.

A pioneer in bringing streetwear to the luxury scene, the designer gave us many layers to unfold at his latest SS22 digital show, titled “Amen Break”, taking inspiration from the Japanese Kung-Fu film “Lone Wolf and Cub”.

With a theatrical and poetic show featuring black artists; GZA, Goldie, Saul Williams, Lupe Fiasco, Shabaka Hutchings… the models wore belted overlayered suits with pleated skirts, tracksuits styled with tailored vests, gender-bending tiered puff dresses, logo-ed varsity jackets, mini-skirts and lengthy coats all cinched at the waist. The vibrant looks were accessorised with military berets, coloured ear-muffs and full face masks with checkerboard prints (which reminded me of a modernised Leigh Bowery).

Abloh has been working on perfecting his formula of meshing different cultures at Louis Vuitton since his arrival and his latest collection was no exception. A feast for the eyes, this season had cultural references scattered around the designer’s palette, pushing boundaries of formal wear by finding inspiration in the Japanese kendo uniforms, kilts, tracksuits and club-kids.

“I always work in polar opposites and I’m always dialoguing with the formality of Louis Vuitton and the contemporariness of youth culture today — almost like a generation discovering luxury again, and I’m the conduit… So these polar opposites are the suit and the tracksuit. I was thinking about that: the day job and the night job, the raver and the businessman. I’m not choosing between one or the other. My signature is both.” the designer expressed at an interview with WWD.

A moment in the short film had a group of suited models standing against colourfully dressed club-kids, like polar opposites facing each other in a chess game… a perfect illustration of the designer’s approach to cross generations, to find the middle ground which respects the heritage and innovates beyond.

 

Aybuke Barkcin

Aybüke Barkçin is an art director, photographer, curator and writer that looks at fashion through the lens of political and societal dynamics. She completed her master's Creative Direction in POLIMODA, Italy and has a background in International Relations and Graphic Design. Her work can be found in her website: https://www.aybukebarkcin.com/