How many icons can you get in one room? If you’re Louis Vuitton, more than you can count on two hands. The French fashion house is 160 years old, and is celebrating it up big with its monogram collection, released to fete the anniversary. With the help of iconoclasts Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Louboutin, Frank Gehry, Rei Kawakubo, Marc Newson and Cindy Sherman, Louis Vuitton’s ubiquitous monogram was given new life by each designer, who created their own leather goods for the range.
Of course, such a strong cast of characters needed to be celebrated in an appropriate venue. So, Vuitton gathered its crew at the MoMA on Friday night for cocktails, a sit-down dinner and photo session with Patrick Demarchelier. Guests like Ashley Olsen, Anna Wintour, Karlie Kloss, Miranda Kerr, Nicole Kidman, Liya Kebede and several others all filed into the pop-up photo studio within the museum to be shot by the iconic photographer.
But besides the fancy venue and the brand’s longevity, probably the greatest testament to Louis Vuitton’s iconic status is what the label means to the very guests attending the affair. Jennifer Connelly was on hand to support the label and her friend Nicolas Ghesquière, whom she admitted to us has heavily influenced her style choices over the years. But in spite of her close relationship with the creative director, she has quite a few fond memories tied to the fashion house. “My earliest Louis Vuitton memory is luggage,” she told us. “My mom used to have an antique store and she had some very old, vintage suitcases and trunks.” But not everyone was lucky enough to have such access to Louis Vuitton’s many fine leather goods — vintage or new — as a youngster. Will.i.am’s memories of the brand include “being 18 and wanting to buy it.” When he finally was able to make a purchase, he picked up a pair of shades.
Jennifer Connelly; Image: Getty
Lagerfeld also showed up for the festivities, flanked by the hottest member of his entourage, Sebastien Jondeau. The designer created a punching bag for the collection, which is the piece that’s got folks buzzing. Lagerfeld himself doesn’t box, and neither does Chloë Sevigny, who was also on hand for the event. “I’m not really into violence, but I’ve done some kickboxing before in my life,” she said. But if she had to get into a friendly boxing match with a celebrity pal, it would be Orange Is the New Black star Natasha Lyonne. “She’s my best friend. She’s scrappy and I think we’d have fun.”
Karlie Kloss; Image: Getty
