I’m sure most of us still remember Louis Vuitton‘s Cruise 2018 fashion show held at the Miho Museum in Kyoto, Japan, back in May 2017. Yes, I’m referring to the one with the super long runway and the models in super heavy Kabuki-like makeup and quite befittingly so, given the collection’s theme. More importantly, it was Creative Director Nicolas Ghesquière’s way of paying homage to Japanese contemporary fashion designer, Kansaï Yamamoto, who served as his muse and collaboration partner for the Cruise 2018 collection. Yamamoto created designs closely associated with traditional Japanese culture, particularly, Japanese-style prints, the Kabuki, and the Daruma Doll (the almost-spherical “heads”  that look like bearded men with thick eyebrows). Modeled after Bodidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism, these dolls are greatly valued by the Japanese as talismans and symbols of good fortune.

The result of this collaboration with Yamamoto? Kabuki masks against Vuitton’s Monogram Canvas and Monogram Reverse and Daruma Dolls with Vuitton’s logo for eyes on the handbags, SLGs, and stationery.

I know what you’re thinking, so let’s address the elephant in the room. In fact, I was thinking the same thing  when I first saw these Kabuki mask pochettes coming down the Cruise 2018 runway during the fashion show: “hmm… Kabuki masks they may be, but with those eyes, it seems as if there’s a weeeee bit too much of a Fendi monsters influence, now, isn’t there?” Oh, and I don’t know about you, but the red mask creeps me out because it looks really fierce and fiery.

Last but certainly not the least, you all know that the Petite Malle is my absolute all-time favourite bag ever, and these Kabuki versions of them, don’t disappoint. Out of these two, I much prefer the one in the Monogram Reverse above, because there’s a central point of focus. The other one, on the other hand, seems a tad too “busy”.

Apart from the Petite Malle clutches, my picks are the key fobs with the single eye and the elongated red one, and the notebook in Monogram Reverse. What are your thoughts on the Kabuki collection? Do you give it a “yay” or “nay”?

Images via Louis Vuitton