Nicolas Ghesquière Puts His Spin on Spanish Fashion for Louis Vuitton Cruise 2025

Ana Colón

24 May 2024 at 11:28 am·5-min read

What do Nicolas Ghesquière and Tyra Banks have in common? They can both say they've staged a runway show at Barcelona's Park Güell.

On Thursday, the French designer presented his 10th Cruise collection for Louis Vuitton. It follows in the spirit of his previous work by pulling inspiration from the location — in this case, the world-renowned public park designed by Antoni Gaudí. (How does it compare to the "America's Next Top Model" Cycle 7 final runway? Well, we'll let the public decide.)

Architecture has long been a reference point for the designer. One of his most memorable resort runways borrowed from the shape and colors of the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Niterói by Oscar Niemeyer, which served as the backdrop for the Cruise 2017 show in Rio de Janeiro.

"Even more than an architect, Antoni Gaudí is like a land unto himself that, to this day, continues to come into its own in the city of Barcelona," the brand wrote in a statement about the collection. "The idea of a legacy in constant mutation suits Louis Vuitton. Staged within this incomparable architectural organism, the 2025 Cruise collection is steeped in the flourishing culture of Spain. As if in homage to such opulent purity, the Maison’s rigorous spirit embraces the country’s passionate character. The fervor of its colours, its loyalty to tradition elevated into artistic expression, dark and light that never appear contradictory. In sum: a style, an art of traveling, enriched by the specialness of a different land and the way one makes it one’s own; a journey of discovery."

Ghesquière's penchant for precision and silhouette — the strong shoulders, the sharply-cut short skirts, the oversized collars — is in conversation with Gaudí's more fluid, sculptural shapes, resulting in soft but pronounced curves, seen in boxier balloon bodices, sleek hourglass cinches and fluid draping. He also pulls from some of the most well-known hallmarks of Spanish style: The most obvious (or at least unmissable) one is the extra-wide-brim Cordobes hat, placed askew on the heads of many models walking the show, but there are also the black and white polka dots reminiscent of flamenco dresses, the ponchos reimagined as mini dresses and the touches of lace. The designer also borrows from the country's long tradition of ranching, incorporating fringe throughout the collection (accenting collars and sleeves, plus covering boots) and reimagining utilitarian pocketed belts.

Then, there are the Ghesquière hallmarks, present in pretty much every one of his collections: the touch of futurism (seen in the reflective wrap-around sunglasses and holographic ankle boots that add a dimension of color to the mostly cream, grey and black palette) and the bubble skirts (he's one of the industry's biggest advocates for its return, continuing to push the agenda by spotlighting it in nine of the final 10 looks on the runway).

See all the looks from the collection below.