Ghesquière Does Desert Chic for Louis Vuitton Cruise 2016

By Gabrielle Sauls // May 8, 2015

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Louis Vuitton Cruise 2016 collection at the Bob Hope estate in Palm Springs

Nicolas Ghesquière knows a great vista when he sees one. The artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s women’s collections unveiled his 2016 Resort lineup Wednesday at the former Palm Springs home of Bob Hope, a futuristic beauty designed by the late architect John Lautner for the movie star and his wife, Dolores. Its curved roof was the perfect backdrop for Ghesquière’s creations, and Kanye West, Catherine Deneuve and LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault were but three of the VIPs in the audience of 500. Models walked the home’s balcony and massive glass-walled staircase as a staging area, parading around the estate’s pool before re-entering the residence, and everyone had a perfect sightline.

What did we see? Embossed crocodile and snakeskin; a multitude of long, flowing skirts; prints in everything from paisley to bold stripes to stained glass; and eveningwear of exquisite leather with cutout LV monograms. But don’t forget the hot pants and palm-print bags, which promise to be on all the best yachts next year.

Ghesquière says the property — known as the Volcano House, which is on the market for $24,999,000 and offers sweeping views of the Coachella Valley — is “a symbolic landmark that has inspired me ever since I first saw it.” His new collection is doing some inspiring of its own.