Vintage travel + '80s Antonio Lopez = Louis Vuitton FW2012-13

BANGKOK — My fascination with this city started in the mid-’80s when I became close to Joey, a Thai citizen and former classmate of mine at UP Fine Arts.

Joey introduced me to local Thai fashion and cuisine, which kept me coming back for more. But I must say, out of all my Bangkok trips through the years, none was as memorable as the recent one hosted by Louis Vuitton to present their fall/winter 2012-13 collection.

First, we were billeted at the country’s grandest hotel, the Mandarin Oriental, whose lobby was decorated with stunning floral arrangements.

Every day the hotel was teeming with security looking after VVIPs passing through its doors and corridors at all times.

An A-line suit with exaggerated round lapels and jewel buttons

On our first night, Louis Vuitton hosted a traditional Thai dinner at the Mandarin’s Sala Rim Naam. To get there, we boarded exotic lighted boats that shuttled hotel guests across the river.

The following day we were taken by mini-buses to the Siam Commercial Bank for the presentation of the men’s and women’s collections.

The men’s collection was worn by very good-looking models with stern looks and squinting eyes.

Kim Jones, Louis Vuitton Men’s Studio and Style director, working under the artistic direction of Marc Jacobs, took inspiration from the work of legendary fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez.

“I was interested in the great impact of Japanese design on Paris in the ’80s, of how modern global fashion began to unfold and its impact today,” said Jones.

“Antonio Lopez was one of the first Western fashion people to make strong links to Japan. He worked there and was widely exhibited there in the ’80s,” said Jones.

“I particularly admire his drawings of men from these periods, his heroic vision of men or ‘city warriors,’ who could come from anywhere in the world. There was a quality and taste level to what he did that embodied luxury and he clearly understood it.”

The men’s collection included meticulously tailored suits with contrasting sleeves or lapels, a heavy woolen jacket that blends into poncho, a gray woolen overcoat worn over a knit sweater, and a bomber jacket trimmed with fur.

Colors were a muted palette of gray, dark blue, black, burgundy and camel.

The women’s presentation in Bangkok was much simpler than the styling seen in the runway show, which was set up like an old train station with the white gloved-porters and luxurious steam train.

Instead of the oversize hats created by Stephen Jones for the Paris show, models here wore stylized ponytails with the A-line suits, brocade coats, and beaded tunics over slim-cut pants.

Pieces were fastened with large jewel buttons, while colors were powder pink, camel, red, mustard and brown.

Shoes were dangerously-high Mary Janes with exaggerated square toes and contrasting toecaps, fastened by slim straps and round jewel buttons.

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New handbags for fall/winter include a new buckled Speedy called Golden Arrow; a luxurious bag covered in goat fur and Swarovski crystals; and a series of Monogram Sunshine Express bags in luminous sequins of various colors.

After the presentation, we got to see the models, clothes, and accessories up close and were treated to an expert demo on how to pack the Louis Vuitton way.