First Look: Longchamp Spring/Summer 2018 Collection

If Paris was the world, Parisian women are its explorers. In the capital of chic, every rue and avenue, every quarter and arrondisement, is rich in distinctive traits. 

With a car, a taxi or metro, one can jump from the artsy Montmartre to Africa (18^th Arrondisement is known as the “Little Africa” of Paris) and back to Montmartre in a day’s span!

From the lobby of her Saint-Germain apartment, the Longchamp woman embarks on a journey into the “Cœur d’ Afrique” (heart of Africa). From one art gallery to another, she marvels at the Africa’s indigenous tribal arts with awe. 

The paintings, the sculptures – they seem to interact with her soul, opening her eyes to a world of exotic cultural fanfare and sensorial delights.

After immersing through the wonders of Africa’s indigenous arts, she decided to reinterpret it through her style. 

With fiery passion, she deliberately juxtapose the patterns, textures, and fabrics with earthy and pastel palette. Et voila, a stunning, Africana-fused spring/summer collection is born!  

On a quiet afternoon, her story is finally told to the Malaysian press in the spacious expanse of Colony, Jalan Kia Peng. 

Set in a brilliant venue imitating a true Parisian apartment, the story is divided into two distinguished themes – Boulevard the Saint-Germain and Rue des Beaux-Arts. 

At the Boulevard, the mood is refined, modern and effortless with typical Parisian apartment atmosphere. Yet, at Rue des Beaux-Arts, Africana artifacts such as tribal statues, zebra print rugs and gilded tribal shields lent an air of cosmopolitan chic to the setting.  

On the mannequins, the models, and the racks, the looks and the accessories are ready to narrate the story. 

Lambskin of different textures, the “leading man” of this story, is worked into knee-length A-line dresses, safari jackets and mini-skirts. 

Punching drama into the pieces, the articulately cut colourful patches are patched together to form striking chevron and fish scale patterns. 

Paring down the African-esque looks are feminine geometrical printed silk dress, gossamer embroidered tulle skirt, printed linen top and skirt ensemble, leather-fringed silk stole, and denim ensembles.

From dresses and ensembles, the tribal nuance spreads to the accessories with patchwork bags in lambskin, emblematic Le Pliage for men in tribal graphics against neon and neutral hues, Effrontée cowhide leather bags in three-tone stripes, blushy cowhide leather travel bag, Mademoiselle Longchamp in calfskin and fur as well as extra-large Roseau cotton shopping bag with tribal trompe l’œil weaving effect. 

To complement the bags and the clothes are the shoes. Look forward to wooden-soled suede calfskin clogs with embossed weave or python print, espadrilles with ankle straps ad woven rope soles that glows with pink and gold metallic leather.

Stirring the hearts of every Jeremy Scott fan is the new edition of Longchamp x Jeremy Scott Le Pliage Viva Avant Garde bag. 

Doused in black and boldly emblazoned with red graffiti statement, the Longchamp Le Pliage Viva Avant Garde bag will be available at all Longchamp stores this December.

Longchamp spring/summer 2018 collection will be making its way to Longchamp stores, beginning December 2017. A million thanks to Longchamp Malaysia for inviting Fashion Heaven Rants to the spring/summer 2018 press preview.

*Photos by Fashion Heaven Rants.

Longchamp - Lot No. G03C-E Level Ground, Suria KLCC 241 Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur; 58-60, Level 3, Pavilion, 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur; #G230-B, Ground Floor, Gardens Mid Valley, Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra, 59200 Kuala Lumpur.