SS19 Louis Vuitton ‘Wizard of Oz’ Rainbow Walk Knitted Sweater

Virgil Abloh’s debut collection at the Louis Vuitton maison was unveiled in the heart of Paris, Fall 2018. Following Kim Jones’ prestigious legacy, many dubbed Abloh as a lucky streetwear runoff, doubting his capabilities in the couture world. Critics eagerly awaited Louis Vuitton’s next chapter as they gazed upon a rainbow catwalk, setting the precedent for what was to come. Drawing heavy inspiration from the Wizard of Oz, Abloh invited a sense of inclusivity to the fashion circuit. A variety of ethnicities and cultural backgrounds walked in radiant hues of cherry red, sky blue and deep magentas, equipped with utility bags and cargo jackets. Far from Louis Vuitton’s traditions, the designer reinvented our ideals through reference and nuance, direction attention to a garment’s intricacies and hidden meanings. While it was easy to get lost in the full print knits or mohair sweaters, Abloh seemed to continuously fall back to tropes from the Wizard of Oz and Yellow Brick Road. Perhaps he himself felt as if this moment was just as ethereal as Dorthy’s journey, summed by his closing post to Instagram, which read “You can do it too”.

 

Released at an exclusive pop-up in Harajuku, Japan, this ‘Wizard of Oz’ knitted sweater comes in an opposing plum colour way. Hues of blue, black and purple leach into an Intarsia weave, depicting a landscape of Dorthy, The Tin Man, Scarecrow and The Cowardly Lion en route to Emerald City. With a dropped shoulder and metallic ‘LV’ pin to pair, this crewneck is crafted from a wool composite, stacking at the sleeves when worn. In great condition throughout, tagged as a size extra-large.