Simply Abu Dhabi XX

Vuitton left home for Paris. The 292 mile journey took him two years on foot with stops to carry out odd jobs to support himself along the way. Upon arrival in Paris in 1837, Vuitton became an apprentice at a successful box- making and packing workshop – a craft that was highly respected at the time. Within a few years he had gained a reputation as one of the best in his field in the city. From humble beginnings in the French countryside, Vuitton's skill, innovation and determination quickly saw his signature trunks coveted by the world's elite. With Marc Jacobs at the helm as creative director from 1997 until 2013, the house has expanded its offering to include bags, clothing, shoes, accessories and jewellery, making it one of the most valuable luxury brands in the world. When Jacobs was tasked with creating men's and women's ready- to-wear collections at the time, he told US Vogue: "What I have in mind are things that are deluxe but that you can also throw into a bag and escape town with, because Louis Vuitton has a heritage in travel." When Nicolas Ghesquière took over from Marc Jacobs as artistic director in 2013 he stated, “Louis Vuitton has always incarnated for me the symbol of ultimate luxury, innovation and exploration”. According to Louis Vuitton, Ghesquière brings "A modern creative vision to the house's women's collections, building on the values of refinement, savoir faire and extreme quality.” Ghesquière’s autumn-winter 2015 show certainly brought a modern edge, but it wasn’t a knock-‘em- dead collection. That said, the fabulously furry sheepskin coats that opened the show definitely qualified as such, showcasing the brand’s signature style of effortless elegance. In straight-up shoppability terms, this collection looks primed to be Ghesquière's most accessible so far. His high-rise jeans from spring were in heavy rotation this season including a leather addition.