Before his passing in 2021, Virgil Abloh began work on the Pre-Spring 2023 collection. As a disc jockey himself, Abloh wanted to explore the practice through the eyes of a designer. Abloh explored their connection through the Loft Parties David Mancuso hosted in New York during the 1970s. Unfortunately, Abloh was unable to finish the collection before his passing. His work was carried on by the creative teams and collaborators Abloh worked with at Louis Vuitton.

Mancuso brought people together through the power of music. Transforming his apartment into an iconic party space, Mancuso hosted his first party “Love Will Save the Day” in 1970. Fuelled by the civil rights and counterculture topics of the time, Mancuso played his records from beginning to end to transform the minds of his guests. Louis Vuitton takes a similar approaching, using Abloh’s legacy to explore how dress codes can be used to promote anti-prejudice and egalitarianism.

The Pre-Spring 2023 collection, “Fall in Love”, mirrors a complete wardrobe. 1970s silhouettes, such as wide-leg and flared trousers, snug jackets, and rollnecks, loosely inspire the new designs. Two-button notch-lapel black suit echos the same design principles of a sculpted black tracksuit, equalizing the club scene with formalwear. To truly embody the flower power of the ‘70s with Mancuso’s DJ legacy, Louis Vuitton creates a distressed flower logo that resembles soundwaves. Additionally, Love Potion graphics find their way onto shirts and other pieces, promoting the brand’s imaginary single.

The Louis Vuitton monogram employs an illusory pattern, giving the iconic logo an optical upgrade.  The pattern takes inspiration from op art and aids the DJ scene aesthetic. Shirts adorned in music notes combine sound and fashion in a chic, design-forward way. Both DJs and designers are artists in their respects. Louis Vuitton pays homage to the artist through a series of workwear silhouettes. Grease-effect paint motifs and bird prints signal the hard work and freedom associated with the artist.

To complete the 1970s look, suede chukka boots and a square-toed leather loafer make up some of the shoes for the collection. Sitting on a slightly plateaued foam sole, and covered in monogram decorations, these shoes combine modern design trends with those of the ‘70s. Soft leather dancing shoes, available in loafers and oxford styles, are the staple shoe of the movement, and complete the shoes for “Fall in Love.”

A Louis Vuitton collection would not be complete without bags and other leather goods. For “Fall in Love” the bags use a Taurillon Denim line to fuse leather and denim. Complete with tan contrast-stitching, the new design comes in a Keepall, a briefcase, a Christopher backpack, and other leather goods. The Record Canvas line has a vintage charm, as the monogram takes inspiration from archive Louis Vuitton notebooks. This line comes in blue, burgundy, and dark green, and is available in an Avenue Sling Bag, a Trio messenger, a Keepall, a City Keepall, a Christopher backpack, and other small leather goods.