Last night saw Singapore’s first physical fashion show since the onset of COVID-19. Behind the spectacle? Louis Vuitton. The star-studded event was a highly anticipated opportunity to not only bring Nicolas Ghesquière’s vision to our shores, but an occasion to dress up. Attendees included the likes of local powerhouses Stefanie Sun, Zoe Tay, Aisyah Aziz and influencers Yoyo Cao, Willabelle Ong and Mae Tan.
“I am very happy to bring the Louis Vuitton spring/summer collection to Singapore, a city I love,” said Ghesquière in a teaser welcome video. After a year of experiencing fashion shows through a screen, the label’s show signals a hopeful return to pre-pandemic fashion fanfare.
Read on for Vogue Singapore’s key highlights from the socially distant—but ceremonious—night.
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1. It was the first fashion show of its kind to take place in South Asia
Held at Singapore’s ArtScience Museum, the spin-off show marked the debut of Louis Vuitton’s new Summer 2021 capsule collection, alongside the spring/summer 2021 runway collection. Aptly located next to Louis Vuitton’s floating boutique, the ArtScience Museum was transformed into a green screen playground. Viewed from above, the set was designed to resemble a clock, a reference to Nicolas Ghesquière’s penchant for time. With travel on hold, it was as though fashion week was transported to our shores—and the Marina Bay Sands skyline.
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2. The show was a virtual reality experience for audiences at home
Much like the Paris staging, this show turned to the transportive power of green screens as both the physical and virtual backdrop to the collection. While guests in attendance sat amidst an all-green set, audiences at home saw a projection of footage from Wim Wenders’ 1987 film Wings of Desire.
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3. The Coussin bag was a standout SS21 accessory
Ghesquière first unveiled his spring/summer 2021 collection at Paris Fashion Week back in October, taking place at the newly renovated but historic La Samaritaine. Closing fashion month on a high note, the show was a fully immersive experience for both in-person guests and online audiences alike. The collection saw a myriad of ’80s references, from disco-ready paillettes to paper bag trousers. But of special mention? One of the stars of the spring/summer 2021 lineup—the Coussin bag, which was flaunted in a series of colourways, from black, silver and fittingly, green-screen green.
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4. The show featured a strong line-up of local models
The casting of the show was one to watch, too. Homegrown models, in particular, stole the show. Singapore’s very own Kaigin Yong opened the show, followed by Fiona Fussi, Aimee Cheng Bradshaw, Vogue Singapore cover star Diya Prabhakar, and emerging faces Nandita Banna and Claire Lee.
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5. It rained—indoors
The socially distanced show was staggered into three sessions—one at noon, 4pm and 7:30pm. The final show in the evening came to a rainy close as Singapore’s monsoonal rainfall poured upon the Oculus of the ArtScience Museum. The indoor rain was certainly an unexpected element of the night, but it added to the drama and theatrics of the collection. It’s clear Louis Vuitton pulled off Singapore’s first physical fashion show since the pandemic—come rain or shine.
