Could it be the recent death of Maurice Herzog, the first man to scale the 8,000-metre Annapurna peak, that inspired Louis Vuitton to climb the Himalayas for his winter menswear outing?
Or perhaps just a love of exotic, far-flung destinations for the house most famous for its travel bags?
Whatever the reason, it worked — with designer Kim Jones turning out an effortless, luxury collection for autumn-winter 2013 in Paris.
He came down to ground level, bringing with him with lashings of fur and the Asian region’s snow leopard as a motif. This accompanied the house’s bread-and-butter sharp suits in a muted palette underneath the wintry outerwear.
But it was the snow leopard who stole the show — whether in needle punched jacquard on a light double-breasted coat, or in collars, neckties and pocket squares, and even in one show-stopping laser cut mink coat — the sky-high feline kept popping up.
Furs made a comeback; the programme notes listed some six different pelts: astrakhan, sheepskin, shearling, shaved beaver, fox used on blousons, overcoats and parka trimmings — and as lining.
Louis Vuitton shows are often exhaustive.
The final part included sumptuous prints in silk and cashmere on tuxedos and nightgowns thanks to a collaboration with Turner Prize nominees, the Chapman Brothers, who fused baroque floral print with Himalayan traditional arts.
It was a decadent line-up, with a little for every taste.
