Photo: Getty

It takes a lot to get the jaded fashion pack to emote at all, especially at the end of fashion month when everyone is dragging their feet and crabby. But they squealed with glee this morning when a massive custom made train–complete with whistles, clouds of smoke and even a bearded conductor–rolled into the the Cour Caree du Louvre this morning to start the Louis Vuitton fall show.

Our invitations were luggage tags and the set was a replica of a train station, so one could have guessed a train might be involved but, still, it was quite the spectacle–and an awesome one at that.

Models were seated in pairs within the train. Made up to look tired with dark eyes, the show notes informed us that “the passengers on the train have a chequered past,” and that “they arrive, with a vast amount of baggage, from a journey begun somewhere in the countryside travelling to this grand edifice in the city.” A uniformed attendant was on hand to escort each model off the train, where she was then trailed by a porter who carried her hat boxes, weekend bags, and “petites valises” done in crocodile, goat, pony and ostrich–some covered in wool, some embroidered in sequins. The porters, regular-sized dudes, are, according to the show notes, “merely added accessories” meant to “reinforce the point of this towering female silhouette.”

Like Marc Jacobs’ eponymous fall collection, many of the models wore big floppy hats. For Vuitton, though, the hats were beribboned and feathered and had a more cloche-like shape. They were certainly more toned down and ladylike than the Jamiroquai-inspired Stephen Jones’ creations Jacobs topped his models with in New York.

The clothes looked similar to Jacob’s namesake line, too, only more ladylike, more rich, and minus that exaggerated roomy-hipped silhouette (thank goodness). Skirts flared out to emphasis a narrower waist and were worn over cigarette pants. And put a fur collared caot over that. Layers are necessary for a long train trip, you know. And while the silhouettes were simple the materials were not: there were jacquards and brocades and furs and tinsel woven into tweed to make it sparkle. Shiny jewels and crystals were embroidered onto coats and dresses. It was truly a feast for tired eyes.

Here’s a video of the Louis Vuitton train entering the station. Apologies for the shaky hand.

Photos: Getty