Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1405910
T he beauty of Louis Vuitton is the people — the collaborative efforts that keep the brand in the eye and at the forefront of what's new. It's picked up bits here and gathered momentum there and is now a massive object with gravity that overtakes everything it contacts, redefining not only itself but the world around it. An unstoppable force that creates its own rules in space and time, Vuitton has created its own universe — one whose Big Bang occurred on August 4, 1821, with the birth of its namesake founder. To celebrate the 200th anniversary of that birth, the French fashion house has tapped a litany of artists, writers, curators, designers, poets, skateboarders, activists, and more for a year-long campaign succinctly titled Louis 200. It all begins with a trunk quite similar to the one Monsieur Vuitton designed long ago and an invitation to artists and creatives to repurpose, embellish, deconstruct, and honor Vuitton's humble trunk — the beating heart of the early house and the precursor of its many successes to come. In a sign of how far the house has traveled, it has also commissioned Louis the Game, an adventure platformer available for THE YEAR OF mobile that features Vivienne, the LV mascot, and a series of six levels, with 30 NFTs, 10 of which were created by artist Mike "Beeple" Winkelmann. Also in the works are a novel by French writer Caroline Bongrand, a commissioned large- scale triptych by Alex Katz, and the documentary Looking for Louis, which traces out the steps and story of the young entrepreneur and his life. Think of it as the year of Louis. For Vuitton, it quite literally is. And, while it may be a little over the top, it is — like all things Vuitton — spectacular in ambition, broad in scope, and beautiful in execution. To learn more about what's to come or to play along, visit louisvuitton.com. LOUIS "CHRISTIAN DIOR: DESIGNER OF DREAMS" L onging to get away? Travel abroad? Definitely. However ... It can be tricky. Perhaps we should leave the exotic destinations for next year and stay stateside, taking a trip back in time instead. For those who love fashion and culture, might we suggest a visit to New York City to see "Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams" at the Brooklyn Museum. The stunning retrospective, conceived for the house's 70th anniversary, opens Friday, September 10. Originally launched at Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the exhibition has been reinvented by curator Florence Müller in collaboration with the Brooklyn Museum's Matthew Yokobosky, pairing museum works with an exhibition that covers the incredible history of one of fashion's most revered brands. It's our opportunity to view some of Dior's earliest creations, many of which have never been seen by the general public, paired with exceptional pieces of art, such as the work of Paul-César Helleu, one of Dior's favorite artists. The exhibition moves on to photography, with a celebration of American masters including Richard Avedon, Horst P. Horst, Irving Penn, and Annie Leibovitz. Further still, we see a showcase of former Dior artistic directors as seen through the lens of art and history, from Yves Saint Laurent to Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferre, the extravagant John Galliano, and Raf Simons. You'll see these creatives through paintings that inspired them, alongside some of their most influential and rare works, while showcasing the far-reaching impact that Christian Dior and the house he created has had on the world of art, fashion, and beyond. Tickets are on sale now. brooklynmuseum.org. 48