Louis Vuitton Men’s collection by Virgil Abloh Spring–Summer 2019

‘The vocabulary according to Virgil Abloh’ A liberal definition of terms and explanation of ideas.

# raised in Rockford, Illinois. He earned a civil engineering 3% degree from the University of The exact ratio needed to Wisconsin in 2002 and an MA in twist a normative object into architecture from the Illinois something special. Institute of Technology in 2006. Abloh served as creative A director for until launching his first label, Pyrex Accessomorphosis Vision, in 2012. The year after, A portmanteau describing the he established Off-White. transformation of an accessory Virgil Abloh joined into a garment, effectively as Men’s Artistic Director in evolving its functional form. March 2018.

After party C A social gathering following a show intended for Collaboration industry guests but made A creative partnership between great by the civilian fans of people or brands in which the brand in question. Virgil Abloh has often engaged in the past. Likewise linked to B the business of Louis Vuitton for over a century, the Spring- Bags Summer 2019 collection features The ultimate expression of no collaboration. utility. For Spring-Summer 2019, bag designs are derived from Collar the icons of Louis Vuitton and A shirt or jacket component treated with Virgil Abloh’s 3% indispensable in the codes of methodology. formalwear – a sector native to Louis Vuitton and foreign Biography to its designer - its tips Born in 1980, Virgil Abloh was are clipped as a mark-making

1 – ‘The Vocabulary according to Virgil Abloh’ gesture of irony. age of fashion. Can lead to “Virgil Abloh was here.” Artistic Director positions at Louis Vuitton. D F Denim A workingman’s fabric typically Fandom elevated in high fashion, this A two-way worship between common material relies on its a designer and his clientele, unrefined familiar appeal to fashion fandom mimics the co- trigger the desired emotional dependent relationship between connection. Virgil Abloh was performer and supporter, raised on 1990s’ washed-out a connection native to music and Levi’s jeans, stiff and vintage- sports scenes. found. G Designer “I don’t call myself a designer, Gloves nor do I call myself an image- Coverings for the hands employed maker. I don’t reject the label by Virgil Abloh to accentuate of either. I am not trying to the signature accessories of put myself on a pedestal, nor am Louis Vuitton, the colors of I trying to be more, now. gloves are purposely matched to I would like to define the title the leather goods with which of Artistic Director for a new they are paired. and different era.” –Virgil Abloh. Graphics A signature facet in the work “I like loud music.” of Virgil Abloh, graphic –Virgil Abloh. ornamentation no longer takes the form of prints but evolves Dorothy into artisanal insignia, hand- A farm girl from the Midwest embroidered, flocked and off transported to Oz, a fairy tale the grid. It is hand-placed land where she experiences individually by Virgil Abloh. things beyond the reach of her imagination. As an outsider, Halo she soon discovers she was taken A circle of light formed to Oz for a reason. around a fashion house and its collections encompassing E the complete creative sphere and significance of a designer. Exposure An apparatus recognized by designers in the social media

2 – ‘The Vocabulary according to Virgil Abloh’ Harnessing Luxury A term denoting a means of A label determined by values, safekeeping, and the conversion codes and qualities, its use of a decorative object into and definition were the privilege useful ornamentation. of few until a new generation conquered its dominion and I shifted the paradigm for good.

Irony M The philosophy of a new generation. The presence of Margielaism Virgil Abloh at Louis Vuitton. A term applied to garments or accessories which reflect the J normative fashion religion of a reverent generation of young Jewelry or younger designers to which Objects of decoration often Virgil Abloh belongs. characterized by an all-that- glitters-is-gold understanding Millennial of ornamentation, the Spring- A term applied to consumers Summer 2019 jewelry appears born between the late 1980s and in ceramics or unrarefied 1990s, often linked to markets metals denoting a contrasting associated with Virgil Abloh, celebration of non-precious a non-millennial designer with materials. millennial sensibilities.

K Model A person identified by the Kanye West anatomical, racial and cosmetic A mentor and friend to features of his appearance. Virgil Abloh. Or, by his artistry, individuality and personality. L Motto Long-windedness “Good style is always “A blessing and a curse.” off-putting.” –Virgil Abloh. –Virgil Abloh. N Louis Vuitton Parisian purveyor of leather Normcore goods founded in 1854. Defined by The irony of a generation raised its Monogram, the House invented on extravagance, and the make- logomania. Its brand value do and mend sensibility of those retains unparalleled standing with access to it. across cultures and classes.

3 – ‘The Vocabulary according to Virgil Abloh’ O sand is rendered like a rainbow while selected guests Off-White wear corresponding t-shirts, A greige gradient of white, effectively activating the show which alters a component through attendance. familiar to all. It serves as a blank canvas for perception Psychedelia and interpretation. Originally a term for art created through means of intoxication, Oz it describes an innocent sense of A fantasy land visited by elation observed in trippy color country girl Dorothy in the formations and kaleidoscopic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. motifs. Upon arrival after a cyclone transports her there, she tells R her dog, “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” Rainbow A kaleidoscopic palette evolving P from off-white to polychromatic, synchronously forming a Palette holographic archway known to Black, white, off-white, and represent dreams. A motif in taupe. Ruby shoe red, brick The Wizard of Oz, which provides road yellow, tin man metallic, construct to the Spring-Summer garland green, and rainbow. 2019 collection.

Poppy Rationale A ruby red flower, whose The underlying method of the exceptionally fragile Spring-Summer 2019 collection, structure is contrasted by its looks are generally designed psychedelic, narcotic properties and styled employing the and hallucinogenic powers. construction of a top layer, a bottom layer, a mid-layer and Production an outer layer. A metaphor for finding drama in subtlety, the Spring- Rockford Summer 2019 audience of three- The Illinois town in which thousand people is formed by the Virgil Abloh grew up, where fashion industry and specially Midwestern practicality and invited students. It creates an utilitarian workwear defined the atmosphere representative of the popular dress sense, effectively dual demographic which will be creating an unintentional take wearing the collection at hand. on anti-fashion. Set in the gardens framed by the galleries of the Palais-Royal,

4 – ‘The Vocabulary according to Virgil Abloh’ S whose sportswear properties are undergoing a critical Shoes transformation into luxury. The wardrobe component most immediately indicative of an era Styling or movement, each shoe design Once simply the addendum to finds its origins in a sports or a designer’s collection, it now vintage culture, from 1960s’ serves as a contemporary fashion Chelsea boots to the golden era tool offered by a designer to the of 1980s’ basketball trainers. public as an initiation of ideas and ultimate self-expression. Silhouette “Revert against stiff and formal. Sunglasses Look as comfortable as you An accessory that gives the feel.” –Virgil Abloh. impression of a complete look in an instance. For Spring- Sock Summer 2019 sunglasses reference An unsung everyday necessity eyewear from the Al Capone era first covered in rhinestones of – Virgil Abloh’s by in 1983, former stomping grounds – and inspiring a generation of riff on the 2005 Louis Vuitton kids to elevate normality. As collaboration between a child, Virgil Abloh became Pharrell Williams and . an early appropriator of the glitter sock. Sweats “Fashion can either ignore Soundtrack what’s happening in the real An inherent musical world, or partake in it.” juxtaposition staged between –Virgil Abloh. a psychedelic jazz intro by BADBADNOTGOOD, which crescendos T into I Thought About Killing You by Kanye West. Tailoring The paradoxical uniform of Staple the business man, its suitcase- A twisted piece of metal that afflicted creases have become holds two elements together. engrained in the anatomy of A term for the essential garments the blazer, forever folded for and accessories in a wardrobe. travel.

Streetwear Taupe A predictable clothing genre Virgil Abloh’s favorite color in a renegade designer’s debut since 1980. collection as part of the fashion establishment, but one

5 – ‘The Vocabulary according to Virgil Abloh’ Tie-dye A homespun take on psychedelia, its trippy effects is often used to illustrate a state of euphoria. The DIY dying technique will hold nostalgic value to those educated at the University of Wisconsin, the foremost hippie college of all time.

Timepieces Functional fusions between jewelry and clocks that effectively create a process of accessomorphosis, timepieces have been turned into true accessories through the employment of ceramic links in double-wrap configurations.

Tribal A wealth of motifs identifying a designer’s most original origins and generational pride, they serve as the earliest memory of a boy raised by a Ghanaian tailor mother and her traditional West African garb.

U

Utility Once the luxury of workwear, utilitarian elements now provide fashion with equal parts functionality and pleonasm. It is the usefulness of a multi- pocket gilet, and the irony of wallet situated at the ankle.

Z

“If you’ve made it this far, thank you for your time.” –Virgil.

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