Nicolas Ghesquière Captures the Romance of Travel

Nicolas Ghesquière’s latest collection for Louis Vuitton was a masterful tribute to the maison’s legacy of dressing the world’s most stylish travelers. The Fall 2025 collection, presented at the historic L’Étoile du Nord near Paris’s Gare du Nord train station, seamlessly blended nostalgia, movement, and elegance into a cinematic display of fashion.

From the moment the first model stepped onto the runway, the setting evoked the golden age of train travel. With the soft hum of departure boards in the background and the echo of hurried footsteps, Ghesquière transformed the venue into a stage where the romance of travel took center stage. “I wanted to capture the emotions of a journey—the anticipation, the goodbyes, the arrivals,” he explained. “A train station is a place where stories unfold, where style is both personal and expressive.”

The collection reflected this sentiment with silhouettes that seamlessly balanced function and sophistication. The opening looks set the tone with sheer, rubberized trench coats in muted grays and taupes, layered over striped jumpsuits with fluid scarves. These pieces exuded the effortless elegance of travelers making their way across platforms, their ensembles both practical and stylish. Double-breasted wool coats with structured shoulders referenced vintage railway uniforms, while silk dresses, flowing like steam from an old locomotive, encapsulated a sense of motion and fleeting beauty.

Leather, an essential component of Louis Vuitton’s heritage, played a dominant role in the collection. Boxy leather jackets with high collars, Bermuda shorts with circular cargo pockets, and structured trench coats with exaggerated lapels redefined travel-ready outerwear. Each ensemble felt like a glimpse into a traveler’s wardrobe, a collection of garments that told stories of past journeys and future destinations.

There was a clear dichotomy between effortless wanderlust and metropolitan sophistication. Some models embodied relaxed, free-spirited travel in soft knit separates and oversized coats, while others represented the precision of city dressing with sharply tailored suits and high-neck blouses with exaggerated sleeves.

Eveningwear embraced a fusion of old-world charm and bohemian flair. Delicate slip dresses in crushed velvet and sheer silks, accessorized with monogrammed hat trunks, conjured images of a bygone era when train travel was synonymous with luxury. Dramatic cape coats, cinched at the waist with oversized LV-monogrammed belt bags, added a theatrical touch, reminiscent of a glamorous midnight train departure bound for an unknown yet exhilarating destination.

Ghesquière’s signature play with textures and layering was more pronounced than ever. Ethereal organza tops contrasted with plush fur-lined coats, buttery soft suede trousers complemented intricately embroidered silks, and structured wool outerwear stood against diaphanous chiffons. This masterful blend of textures echoed the tactile nature of travel itself, where the feel of fabrics—from the crispness of a linen shirt to the luxurious weight of a well-worn leather duffel—is as significant as the journey.

Accessories reinforced the travel theme with a nod to Louis Vuitton’s origins. Mini steamer trunks, inspired by the house’s 19th-century designs, became chic, structured handbags. Sculptural pillbox hats, reminiscent of vintage train porters, added a nostalgic yet modern touch. Oversized leather gloves and wraparound scarves enhanced the functionality of fashion, offering warmth and sophistication in equal measure. Bright neon abstract prints peeked from beneath classic silhouettes, injecting a rebellious edge into an otherwise classic collection.

Footwear ranged from sleek leather riding boots to pointed-toe pumps adorned with miniature metallic LV locks, symbolizing the idea of securing one’s personal style in transit. Meanwhile, the color palette remained rooted in timeless travel hues—deep burgundies, rich navies, warm camels, and cool charcoals—punctuated by bold, unexpected pops of cobalt and emerald.

By the show’s grand finale, Ghesquière had fully painted a portrait of the quintessential Louis Vuitton woman—a traveler in constant motion, unbound by destinations yet always impeccably dressed for the journey ahead. Whether she is dashing through a station, stepping onto a train, or arriving at her next adventure, she does so with unparalleled elegance and an insatiable curiosity for the world around her.

As the last model disappeared into the distance, a sense of departure lingered in the air. “All aboard,” Ghesquière seemed to say, inviting fashion lovers to embark on a journey where luxury and travel remain forever intertwined.