Louis Vuitton brought a major dose of Belle Epoque glamour to Shanghai Thursday night, reprising its extravagant fall train-themed show from Paris down to the last detail.
True to the invitation’s indication of a 9 p.m. sharp start time, the same vintage locomotive that awed the industry audience in Paris pulled into a massive set erected on the waterfront of the historic Bund.
The exterior of the Louis Vuitton Shanghai flagship.
Runway Show
Postshow, attendees clamored to have their pictures taken in front of the vehicle. They also raced to capture snaps of celebrities such as Laetitia Casta, Fan Bingbing, Alexa Chung and Gong Li, who climbed aboard the train and waved to their enthusiastic fans.
Gong Li
Alexa Chung
Fan Bingbing
The show, undoubtedly one of the most theatrical fashion events ever here, capped off a two-day publicity extravaganza. Louis Vuitton celebrated also the reopening of its enlarged and refurbished flagship in the Plaza 66 mall with a cocktail and gala dinner that featured a performance of two Chopin nocturnes by classical pianist Li Yundi.
The staircase, anchored by Qiu Zhijie’s steel sculpture
The Plaza 66 store, which opens to the public on Saturday, is considered one of Vuitton’s biggest, on par with the Champs-Elysées flagship. The Peter Marinoengineered overhaul, which upgrades the store to “Maison” status, took nearly two years to complete.
Interior of the flagship
The facade features an interlocking mesh of white metal over mirrored glass, echoing the brand’s monogram. Interior elements include Italian marble floors, a striking circular staircase, a private fourth-floor receiving area for VIP guests and a series of outdoor terraces planted with fern pine trees. True to Maison form, the store features a selection of artwork, including a hanging installation of pyrite by Teresita Fernández above the jewelry area and a trio of abstract steel sculptures by Chinese artist Qiu Zhijie.
A view from above
At the opening cocktail Wednesday night, LVMH chairman and chief executive officer Bernard Arnault said he considers the store “one of the most beautiful we ever did with Peter [Marino].”
Via WWD
Photo Courtesy: ifeng.com
