THE SETTING IN A HUGE TENT AT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE PYRAMID AT THE LOUVRE WAS SIMPLY STUNNING. INSIDE WAS EVEN MORE AWESOME!
The mood and tone was sombre black but electrifying so and reminiscent of Marc Jacobs' first collection 16 years ago. To end a hugely successful run with a deja vu retake was a master stroke.
Mrs Kathy Lam of Louis Vuitton Malaysia brought me inside with her VIP guests Datuk and Datin Pillay and we got great seats facing the amazing fountain that played nonstop and was as big as a normal fountain that dotted Paris. At the other end was a carousel where wooden horses rolled by languidly.
Then there were 2 Art Noveau-style lifts whose doors were opened and closed by uniformed porters dressed in uniforms circa a hundred years ago.
The 2 elevators facing each other were made from wrought iron with fancy grill work, the type seen on many Parisian balconies and seemed like perfectly preserved antiques though they were brand new and custom made for the show! The cost and effort were staggering and everyone was instantly lulled into a mood of great expectation. This is a Louis Vuitton fashion show, remember, and all Louis Vuitton fashion shows are in a league of their own. More so when money is the least of worries!
Like the lifts, the ambiance was an ode to timelessness glamourised with a hint of a blackened Moulin Rouge as all 41 models were dressed in black with spectacular feathered head dresses perfectly at home with the Amazons. I almost expected the models to break into a song and dance routine like the showgirls at Moulin Rouge, Lido and Follies Bergere! But no, each walked steadfastly from the entrance, past the fountain, into the lift, out again past the carousel and descended down to the ground and into the changing room.
Each outfit was black except for denim jeans that were blue and even these seemed to be taken from the 1950s or 60s era. The combination of deluxe blouses, camisoles and jackets embroidered, feathered and sequinned with jeans was stunning and very au courant.
As with such shows, some seats were taken illegally so late comers had to sit on the steps! None minded since sitting on the steps and on chairs hardly made a difference.
Of course if you are a star, celebrity or VIP (read that as bigtime buyer or friends of Bernard Arnault the boss of LVMH) you enter through the VIP Enclosure and are taken to front or second row seats where your name is emblazoned on your seat and all is calm and orderly.
Marc Jacobs was given a standing ovation as he came out for a quick walk round the fountain.
Rumours had swirled Paris Marc Jacobs was leaving Louis Vuitton to join Chanel as Karl Lagerfeld was retiring so he could enjoy his golden years in total luxury since Kaiser Karl is no longer a spring chicken but all of 80! This rumour was given credence was Chanel was seen as more 'couture clothes' whereas Louis Vuitton is more bags and not really associated with red carpet ballgowns since Louis Vuitton's clothes are more pret than haute couture.
Of course like all delectable rumours, it quickly died when Louis Vuitton released a statement saying Marc Jacobs was leaving to concentrate on...Marc Jacobs!
Marc by Marc Jacobs is doing phenomenally well so he should be there 24/7. Bernard Arnault the CEO of Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy LVMH thought so too.
He said, "When we started together, Marc Jacobs was a tiny little business of around RM 60 million."
Of course Bernard Arnault lives on a different planet from most of us since RM 60 million is massive to me and can be considered for listing on the Malaysian Second Board maybe!
Added France's richest man, "Today sales is approaching RM 3.1 billion so we have come to an agreement to assist Marc Jacobs and Robert Duffy (Marc's business partner) to an introduction to the Bourse."
It is said (but don't me) LVMH owns some 51% of Marc Jacobs so it makes sense for LVMH to cash in and take the money when it is listed! If it is listed at RM 3 billion, Bernard Arnault and LVMH stand to rake in RM 1.6 billion! So why continue to pay Monsieur Marc Jacobs a hefty salary when they can get cold cash? Whichever way, LVMH wins so now you know why their business model is taught at all advanced colleges of commerce!
If Marc Jacobs stays on at Louis Vuitton as creative director, all is fine and dandy. If he leaves to concentrate on his eponymous label bearing his name, LVMH stands to gain RM 1.6 billion! Win-win! Don't you love Big Business? It's like being a remisier---your client sells ata profit, you get a commission, your client sells at a loss, you still get your commission! Someone told me this is how the mafia works too; their heavy lorries trundle along highways which crack and damage the tarred surfaces but they also own the legitimate road repair company!
I'm an ex colleague of Guillaume and would love to get in touch with him after almost 10 years. Any chance you can connect me?
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