Longchamp serves up jet-set style for Fall/Winter 2019

By

Gabriella Lacombe

Published
Feb 10, 2019

This season, Longchamp creative director Sophie Delafontaine served up the ultimate women’s airport wardrobe in a collection inspired by Paris, New York City, and the jet-set lifestyle.

According to a release from the brand, the Longchamp Fall/Winter 2019 collection is meant to embody the Longchamp woman, “forever in motion, restless in [her] pursuit of new experiences.”

The runway show, which marked the French label’s second show at New York Fashion Week following its 70th anniversary show in September of 2018, took place on the ground floor of the 28 Liberty Street skyscraper in downtown Manhattan. There, the 40-look collection embodied the transatlantic jet-set lifestyle as models strode by with the speed and confidence of a woman on her way to catch a first-class flight.

The collection’s apparel combined classic Parisian elements with NYC's natural edge, and like at Tom Ford and Kate Spade's shows this season, there was a distinct late 60s/ early 70s flavor in the air.

Billowing silk dresses met skirts with shearling trim; clean white blouses with long bows were paired with silver-studded leather; cropped vests topped off ankle-brushing loose skirts. A color palette of white, orange, navy blue, brown, black and pastel purple furthered the theme, while patchwork and python-printed leather platform boots in thigh-high and ankle versions completed the rock 'n’ roll vibe.

Moving on to the label’s coveted accessories, the Fall/Winter show presented handbags with Longchamp’s new LGP logo, inspired by Bauhaus artists and New York’s grid plan. In addition to appearing on accessories, the three-letter logo popped up on jackets and separates throughout the collection.

Aptly named considering the collection’s theme, Longchamp’s La Voyageuse handbag made its debut, showing off a silhouette inspired by portable vanity cases in standard, large and foldable models. Additionally, Longchamp’s best-selling Le Pliage bag appeared in its first-ever miniature size. All the bags came in a variety of colors, in fabrics like crocodile-printed leather, leopard-printed calf hair and simple leather embossed with the LGP logo.

One of France's leading handbag makers, Longchamp is currently pushing forward with the expansion of its global presence, with a particular focus on the Chinese and U.S. markets. The label is therefore set to launch its own Chinese e-commerce platform this year and open a handful of new U.S. stores in the near future.

It's a strategy which will also require continued affiliation with influential young stars who can help the label win over millennials – and Longchamp seems to have this covered as well. Having featured in the brand's first NYFW show, Kaia Gerber took to the runway for the label once again this season, while brand ambassador Kendall Jenner sat front row. 

With all of this coming together, it looks as though, just like the jet-setting models in its latest runway show, Longchamp could well be going places.