If life’s a beach, we may as well make some sandcastles. At least, that’s the philosophy of Louis Vuitton studio Prêt-à-Porter Homme, who presented the Louis Vuitton Men’s SS23 collection in Aranya. Embracing a childlike sense of imagination, the brand populates its creative playground with whimsical looks to match the Aranya beach. These looks are fresh and inventive, capturing that feeling of cosmic gratification. 

This theme of embracing the universe around us, and finding joy in the minutiae of life, seems especially tied to the brand’s history. Collection ∞ comes less than a year after the death of Virgil Abloh, the former artistic director of Louis Vuitton menswear. Abloh’s influence can be viscerally felt within the collection, both in its imaging and its inspiration. We should all learn to appreciate the smallest of pleasures in life – if Abloh’s story taught us anything, it’s that life itself is precious. 

Still, Collection ∞ does doddle on the sadness of Abloh’s passing. No, it pushes the creative barrel forward, while using his life and love as its inspiration. Where one may expect some more muted, cooled-down garments, Louis Vuitton bursts out with pops of color. Built-in color-blocked neons and bold patterns, the collection screams of liveliness and ecstasy. That’s likely a more effective mourning of Abloh’s legacy, in capturing the triumphs that he so celebrated. 

In terms of individual pieces, one can expect to find more oversized garments with eye-catching patterns. The collection frequently blurs its palette, mixing lavender with green or yellow with cyan. Patterns range from bold florals to logo prints, featuring that iconic Louis Vuitton LV. 

The collection also embraces the toys of our cosmic playground, leaning into props and over-accessorizing. In one of the collection’s biggest, most outwardly maximalist looks, the model sports an entire speaker set attached to their back. This is not your traditional black mesh speaker. No, the speakers are neon green and sport floral-shaped coverings. It’s playful and free-spirited, representing all that this collection attempts to be. 

With a video introduction portraying themes of childhood discovery, and with a runway show live-scored by instrumental band Sleeping Dogs, Collection ∞ effortlessly balances its childlike freedom and its maturity. The looks are daring, they’re animated and more than anything they’re untethered. What a way to celebrate life.