The Louis Vuitton show was a mess from a fashion & protest standpoint

Celebrities attend the Louis Vuitton fashion show during Paris Fashion Week

Every time I look at photos from a Louis Vuitton show in Paris, I’m always upset by how many celebrities come out for LV and how bad all of those celebrities look in LV clothing. Ana de Armas arguably got “the best” look from Nicolas Ghesquière’s Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2022 collection, but it’s not like there was tons of competition. Look at that weird rope-knot on the dress!! LOL. Jennifer Connelly is a complete wreck in her ensemble. Phoebe Dynevor’s dress is a mess. Alicia Vikander – who has been with LV for years now – looks like she’s wearing a tennis skirt with a Members Only jacket.

Against this backdrop of fug fashion, protesters emerged. Well, by “emerged,” I mean “stormed the runway.”

It is a long-standing tradition that Louis Vuitton closes out Paris Fashion Week and, in turn, a long month of runway shows that starts in New York. But the grand finale of the spring 2022 collections was a little different this season. On Tuesday afternoon, a protester joined models on the catwalk, carrying a large fabric sign that read, “OVERCONSUMPTION = EXTINCTION.” Eventually, the protester was tackled by security guards and carried off.

Three climate activist groups were mentioned at the bottom of the protester’s sign and have publicly aligned themselves with the action: the French chapters of Extinction Rebellion, Youth for Climate, and Friends of the Earth. A group of protesters with signs also gathered outside the Louvre, where the show took place.

“La planète brûle mais la mode regarde ailleurs,” wrote Extinction Rebellion France in an Instagram post. This translates roughly to “The planet is burning, but fashion looks elsewhere.”

[From The Cut]

I would understand it a bit more if the protesters were specifically protesting “fast fashion,” the cheap mass-market fashion which is designed to be worn once or twice and then fall apart or thrown out. But while I find these LV designs hideous, they are not fast fashion. These pieces will be kept and worn or sold to vintage shops and reworn, etc. But yeah, overconsumption is an issue.

Celebrities attend the Louis Vuitton fashion show during Paris Fashion Week

Celebrities attend the Louis Vuitton fashion show during Paris Fashion Week

Celebrities attend the Louis Vuitton fashion show during Paris Fashion Week

Celebrities attend the Louis Vuitton fashion show during Paris Fashion Week

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

80 Responses to “The Louis Vuitton show was a mess from a fashion & protest standpoint”

Comments are Closed

We close comments on older posts to fight comment spam.

  1. Jezz says:

    “That’s the ugliest f*cking skirt I’ve ever seen”.

    Also, yay brave and cool protester!

  2. Oliphant says:

    Ana de armas looks so lovely here! Was never a fan before I saw her in the new bond movie- I only knew of her from her papped relationship with Ben affleck- but my word she has charisma and a really lovely charm on screen- can see why she was chosen for Marilyn Monroe.

    • Mimi says:

      Ana was so good in knives out too!

      • Magick Wanda says:

        She really was. I didn’t want to like her bc she was everywhere online with Affleck but she was really good.

      • SofiasSideEye says:

        Yep! I’d never seen Ana in anything before she dated Affleck. When I watched Knives Out I saw she has a ton of charisma, talent, and is gorgeous to boot. I like her now.

      • clomo says:

        She is one of those people whose beauty comes out more in film/live than photos. Still very pretty but her charisma really comes out in motion. My bf is like that, bad photos but lovely in real life.

    • Lawcatb says:

      She looks nice, but the dress makes her look pregnant. Great maternity look if she is, bump creating dress if she’s not.

      • GRUEY says:

        I’m a short lady with a bit of a soft figure even at my lowest weight, especially in the arms. I take shitty looks like this personally!! Very unflattering to a pretty lady.

      • Isabella says:

        Her dress is a pretty color, too, and her makeup complements it.

        I do like the purses–and maybe the boots.

    • TeamMeg says:

      Ana definitely looks yummy and got the best dress of the bunch. Everyone else looks AWFUL. Gawd.

  3. Jillian says:

    Was it very hot in the venue? Everyone looks sweaty (and badly dressed)

    • Mia4s says:

      I wondered the same. At the very least that lighting is horrific and makes everyone look washed out!

      How does an international fashion house have such unflattering lighting in a photo call area? *looks at the clothes* Ohhhhh, so unflattering is kind of their thing? 😉

      • tealily says:

        Yes! What even are these photos?? It looks like they caught everybody coming out of the parking garage.

    • smlstrs says:

      They look like awkward sweaty hostage proof of life photos – the Marchesa / Terry Richards but worse lighting vibes…. aren’t helping…

  4. Amy Bee says:

    The point of the protest is to gets people’s attention so why not use one of Paris’s biggest Fashion Houses’ show to do it. I think they would say mission accomplished.

  5. Snuffles says:

    Is Virgil Abloh only in charge of the men’s collection? Because his stuff is fly. And BTS rocked the fuck out of it.

    • MellyMel says:

      Yeah, he’s only in charge of the men’s line.

    • Eleonora says:

      I think that BTS clip on youtube was the first time that many people were camping for a fashion clip to start.

      And yes they did really well.

      A carrot pouch was sold out minutes after one of the members posted it 😀

  6. Eurydice says:

    Oh Jennifer, you’re so loyal to your fashion abuser.

  7. Shawna says:

    She looks just like Felicity Jones here!

  8. D says:

    I would argue Alicia looks better than all of them. Ana is so gorgeous but that dress makes her look short and squat. The picture with the peacoat makes it much better but still not good.

  9. Noki says:

    How do the fashion houses and luxury brands stay afloat ? This is a serious question,they are very expensive,a very small percentage of people can purchase their fashion and products. Yet they have stores all around the world, produce a number of fashion weeks annually, pay celebrities a ton of money to wear their clothes/perfumes and fly to their shows. What business model are they using that they can sustain all this ?

    • North of Boston says:

      That very small percentage of all people who can afford their clothes happen to have a very large percentage of all the wealth.

    • Alexandria says:

      I’ve always wondered about money laundering.

      • Noki says:

        There has to be something bigger there im sure of it. Unless they are all some how operating at a loss like Victoria Beckham and some entities are injecting them with ilicit money.

    • Talia says:

      Also, they use the elite fashion and celebrities wearing the dresses to sell handbags, shoes and accessories. Women who can’t pay tens of thousands for a dress might pay a few hundred or thousands for shoes and handbags. They also licence their names for perfumes.

      • JT says:

        I’ve also read that items like their perfume lines are what really keeps these luxury houses afloat because it’s something that most people can afford. They make most of their money through accessories, perfumes, etc and that is what funds the whole operation. Also, the fashion house are usually apart of a large conglomerate that runs other businesses as well.

      • Amy Too says:

        A lot of them have makeup lines too, and makeup is notoriously overpriced for the actual expenses that go into make it. It’s like when you find out that some huge brand, charging $90/eyeshadow palette is basically using the same formula as ColourPop which is more like $20/palette. And lots have jewelry that is ridiculously overpriced for the actual materials that go into it.

    • Sof says:

      They survive through their small products I think. Sunglasses, perfumes, makeup, skin care… things that regular people can buy with some effort and still feel like they just purchased a luxurious item. Oh, and bags, youtube has taught me that young girls save their money so they can afford a premium handbag when they turn 21.

      • MipMip says:

        They also underpay their workers and get a lot of labor out of unpaid “internships”. Like Goop and the big print publications, you aren’t actually supposed to survive on what they pay you, you’re supposed to live off your trust fund and/or be thankful for the experience and exposure.

      • Sof says:

        @MipMip it makes sense, they always talk about people handsewing couture and how many hours it took to make certain pieces but not about the ready to wear lines.

    • Same says:

      @Noki — they all have lines aimed at the middle class status consumer – for instance LV has the line of never full log bucket bags priced at just under a grand — they have thin straps and minimal hardware and every other 30 something has one — they also pus big on fragrance lines. Also wallets and small goods so people get the LOGO without the big bucks. Kinda like Coach with their knock off outlet store bags.

  10. Gil says:

    Everything it’ is so ugly and poorly made. That pink dress, yikes.

  11. Pao says:

    The fashion is indeed big yikes. About the protesters, they aren’t wrong. Just because louis Vitton is a high end brand doesn’t mean they are sustainable.

  12. Courtney B says:

    Yeah, any Walmart or cheaper department store is more in keeping with their philosophy.
    On a side note, I’ve discovered the subscription boxes globein and alltrue. Both have sustainable and/or items from artisans, farmers, etc in developing nations. I’ve spent way too much but my Xmas shopping for everyone but my kids is done. Lol They’re not clothes for the most part, though they do have accessories. Also supported an all female Kickstarter for an awesome bag/backpack that uses either leather left over product or vegan leather. It cost me almost $300 but I liked supporting women and the product looks really high quality. (Others must think so too because they had an $11000 goal and raised like $3 million.) Just putting it out there because I’ve really tried during this pandemic year+ to be a better world citizen. Even small steps.

  13. Queen Meghan's Hand says:

    Is that really, really Ana de Armas or is it Felicity Jones? Hmm…

    • SarahCS says:

      I read the names at the top of the post as as Alicia Vikander comes first on the list I spent a moment squinting and wondering if it was somehow her.

  14. SM says:

    Whoever is the LV head of design clearly hates women. Most of their clothes look uncomfortable, hideous with a hint of mass murderer vibe, an in – someone who fantasises of dissecting women’s bodies. Sorry, but this is what comes to mind when looking at all those bits and pieces that pull the whole look in different directions.

    • AmB says:

      With the possible exception of poor Ana, in all of these looks the garments are wearing the woman, not the other way around. The words “fashion victim” come to mind. Also “lost a bet”.

  15. Miranda says:

    What in flapper footballer-at-’80s-open-mic-night hell is Jennifer wearing?

    But hey, at least there were no noose necklaces!

    https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-58802091

  16. Jane says:

    LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, which owns Louis Vuitton along with over 70 other brands, is considered the most valuable company in Europe as of 2021. LVMH own everything from fashion, to make up (fenty, Sephora), to alcohol. It makes perfect sense for protestors to target this company. Additionally it is well publicised that Louis Vuitton (like many other ‘luxury’ brands) burn their excess stock to keep exclusivity (famously avoiding sales), as stock control and theft prevention, and apparently in the USA because of a duty drawback law.
    Finally LV shows are frequented by the super wealthy – people who have control and influence, and who are associated with significant overconsumption. Again, it makes perfect sense to protest here.

    • Courtney B says:

      Isn’t that salma Hayek’s hubby’s company?

    • Amy Bee says:

      @Jane: The French government had enacted a law to stop these luxury brands from burning unsold clothes.

      • Jane says:

        The French government has enacted some broader anti-waste and circular economy reforms, including banning companies (in France) from disposing of unsold products. However, application is limited to France (so doesn’t affect practices in places like the US) and criticisms I’ve seen relating to the legislation include that there is no actual penalty for failure to comply. The laws are aimed at all large companies based on a ‘polluter pays’ mentality – but it was apparently Amazon’s practices in particular that sparked the push for the bill.

    • Sof says:

      I don’t know, to stop overconsumption you’ll have to educate buyers. Of course companies will never change their practices otherwise, they’ll argue that less consumption equals less jobs and guess were the public will stand?

  17. MellyMel says:

    These are all so horrible (Ana’s is the best)! I never liked LV clothes. Like Chanel, I only like their bags and accessories.

  18. Valentina says:

    My god, how could anyone fathom wearing something designed by LV these days? I haven’t seen a decent look in years

    • Lucy2 says:

      I agree, I don’t think I have ever liked a dress and discovered it was LV. All of their stuff looks weird, uncomfortable, and tacky.

  19. WithTheAmerican says:

    they’re all so ugly what is happening to LV. Was never a fan before but I mean… NEW LOW.

  20. Nanny to the Rescue says:

    Is it just me or are also the photos sh!t?
    Wrong background, bad lighting, bad poses?
    Like many people there didn’t know what they’re doing?

  21. Misbehavin says:

    Fast fashion is more than just Walmart clothes or the cheap stuff you throw away after a few uses. Anything mass produced is condsidered fast fashion. Anything that’s not couture or bespoke is technically fast fashion. It might be better quality in some ways than the cheaper stuff, but with few exceptions it’s made in the same conditions. We’re all wearing it.

    • Jane says:

      Hallelujah! Thank you! To believe otherwise is to have fallen into the fake dichotomy they have created – that ‘luxury” brands just sell well made one off pieces. Most of it is factory fashion made in the same places.

  22. SarahCS says:

    These clothes are all truly awful. They look like a poor first year at fashion school project.

  23. Case says:

    That is the worst lighting I’ve ever seen on a red carpet. Wtf? I can’t even really analyze the outfits because all the women look so weirdly washed out.

  24. Elo says:

    I cant understand the loves for LV now turned into a kitsch brand. How they got so many celebrities supporting them? They are particularly mean to Conelly who always gets the worst looks.

    What happened with Alicia’s face? She mess her young look with cosmetic procedures and now looks so old (she is not) and unnatural. Ana looks so pretty, thankfully for her the Ben’s episode will forgotten.

  25. Maria from Tercer mundo says:

    Sorry but Ana’s dress is just awful. What’s that? A fabric for rain? Ugly

  26. Sof says:

    You took the words out of my mouth re: fast fashion. I wonder if this kind of protest has ever worked or made people change their minds?
    I was surprised to hear that Vivienne Westwood is recycling old collections to make new stuff, sounds interesting, even though I still wouldn’t be able to afford it.

  27. detritus says:

    I kinda like Pheobe’s dress? It needs someone who can wear the dress though, she looks like it’s wearing her.

    • Same says:

      We can sit together because I kind of love them all except for Phoebe’s.

      • detritus says:

        Ha, we can sit at the bad taste table. I get hers and you can have most of the other pieces. Although we may need to fight over Alicia’s jacket.

        To me the biggest problem with LV here is that they have straight (in all ways) white women wearing these pieces. The looks reminds me very strongly of style stolen from WoC. Imagine Saweetie or Doja or Cardi in these and all of a sudden it’s a different story.

  28. Emma says:

    In addition to the comments above on why target LVMH — animal fur, silk, and leather are not sustainable products. Also (not that most people care), incredibly cruel and inhuman industries both to the animals and to most of the workers involved at lower levels of production. A brand like Louis Vuitton is a trendsetter which will be widely imitated and their choices will have a ripple effect.

  29. Clémence says:

    Well, there are FW in three or four cities, 4 time a year i guess (haute couture and ready to wear) such a waste of ressource, so much carbone emission. No to me FW is OVER. Be humble fashion world please 🙂

  30. Ann says:

    I was watching “Sex Education” last night and Jennifer’s dress looks like a costume that Lily would create for one of her “alien sex” performances or cosplays…….

  31. Rémy says:

    Hmmm…that rope looks like a noose. Considering the same problem that happened with Givenchy and Burberry, I’m surprised it made it down the runway.

    Also the overconsumption is a problem with the entire industry, not just fast fashion. And to be honest, not just a fashion thing. We over consume everything.

  32. Ana is messing her face. New cheeks maybe? She don’t need to put anything in her face. Young girl and already staring with filters etc.

  33. nina says:

    Are they being paid to wear this crap? Otherwise there is just no reason to go out in public looking like that.

  34. Kfg says:

    The luxury fashion market is super damaging to the environment and super wasteful. Fast fashion is bad but it’s not the most damaging aspect of the fashion industry

  35. Lunasf17 says:

    I agree with the protesters. We shouldn’t be diverting any resources to this garbage!

  36. Mabs A'Mabbin says:

    My god these are awful. It’s as though the designers, from the comfort of their living rooms, summoned their kids, eight and under, to phone in their ideas and zoom the pics they drew up following the phone call. All in all, I’d say all looks were cemented between lunch and dinner…or rather, between peanut butter and jelly sammis and chicken nuggets with mac and cheese.

  37. observer says:

    i’ve never seen so many pictures of conventionally beautiful/attractive celebrities look so g-d ugly lol

    it must suck to be an actual fashion model (for many reasons such as mental health ofc, but also because of how ugly so much stuff you have to wear is)

  38. Holly says:

    Oh god these are all so terrible.

    Ana gained weight.