Louise Trotter - Designer, Creative Director of Bottega Veneta

[style_expert]

I see Carven in all of these looks, and not much Bottega Veneta whatsoever. Even that weird, abstract “intrecciato” top is giving Carven vibes somehow?

I sincerely hope she does something more expressive for her debut because at the moment these looks are nothing interesting and not building much momentum or excitement for her September show, which is exactly what they should be doing…

I agree — it’s a poor strategic decision to debut her vision on the red carpet, even if it's on Julianne Moore and even if it's in Cannes.
In fact, I don’t think Bottega should pursue celebrity or red carpet dressing too heavily at all — just selectively, and only with a few truly interesting names.
Julianne is great, but let’s wait and see if she jumps ship once Matthieu presents his first Chanel collections.

Are we looking at another clueless Kering house?

 

[Lola701]

I actually think it’s clever to introduce her Bottega at a film festival. I would have debuted during the Venice film festival though as it is closer in time to the runway show.

She is probably not releasing the images of the resort until it’s time to hit the stores so those looks won’t be fresh in our memory but in in terms of positioning, it goes well with the lifestyle aspect of BV.

Venice and Cannes are rather prestigious and glamorous festivals. It’s not Sundance.
It’s rather exclusive and most of all, it gives clues on the celebrities they will likely attach to the brand.

Regarding her moving to Chanel…BV is not direct competition to Chanel so she could wear both brands. So far, Julianne has a connection with both brands so it’s ok.

 

[yslforever]

That top properly fitted, and not in that boxy form, could work (and the pants too). Bad proportions!!

The top could have been 100% nicer and less boxy, but not perfect, if it were intreciatto silk, or simply braided ribbons,

 

[Kite]

Nobody wants to look like a Leather Pillowcase.

 

[TaylorBinque]

We get it girl. You love that neck line. 😂

 

[Yohji]

I actually think it’s clever to introduce her Bottega at a film festival. I would have debuted during the Venice film festival though as it is closer in time to the runway show.

She is probably not releasing the images of the resort until it’s time to hit the stores so those looks won’t be fresh in our memory but in in terms of positioning, it goes well with the lifestyle aspect of BV.

Venice and Cannes are rather prestigious and glamorous festivals. It’s not Sundance.
It’s rather exclusive and most of all, it gives clues on the celebrities they will likely attach to the brand.

Regarding her moving to Chanel…BV is not direct competition to Chanel so she could wear both brands. So far, Julianne has a connection with both brands so it’s ok.

Vicky wore a lot of Bottega last year as well.

I like most of these looks - particularly the photocall one.

 

[fashionsavvvvvy]

Why all the looks so far seem like a handbag being torn into a top?

 

[marines]

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[Salvatore]

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I would have lived life full of peace and happiness with this look if I had never seen it from the side and back. I hope she gets it together. Trotter is not trotting for me, yet.

 

[PDFSD]

So far I’m not shocked.
It’s very simple and bourgeois. This is BV’s lane. I wish the sleeves weren’t as large on Julianne’s blazer but nevertheless, it’s cool so far.

Every brand produces a black pantsuit. I’m not going to have a judgment on what to expect from it. And maybe those looks will make more sense as part of the collection.

Because precisely, we don’t know if everything is custom or a part of the resort 2026.

Lola i admire your optimism on new appointments :-)

 

[jeanclaude]

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Ok, just forget what I said several posts ago. This is just leather upholstery used as a top. OMG!

 

[Mody]

So far nothing she has presented under BV is anything impressive or shows any promise. For the intreciatto leather woven technique used in dress-making, it is not as new as when Daniel did it (Sorry I am not aware of previous designer's tenure). Matthius with his persistent experiement on material also presented an interesting proposition. Here, nothing is that interesting or has a unqie point of view just like the new CK lady. She did it with intreciatto leather but what else?

 

[Xone]

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Intention is ok...but the execution is poor and lazy and that top is so unflattering...

 

[Norden]

I appreciate her will to be minimal and 'clean', but with looks like these, where there is so little, it really needs to be amazing and perfect. I find the fit on those pants so banal. Someone already said it, but its smelling like the new Calvin Klein.

 

[FashionPower]

Let's hope she's gonna release some new IT bags, otherwise it's gonna be tough for Bottega.
No one asked for yet another reiteration of Phoebe aesthetic with weird boxy proportions and sloppy craftmanship.

 

[tourbillions]

So far nothing she has presented under BV is anything impressive or shows any promise. For the intreciatto leather woven technique used in dress-making, it is not as new as when Daniel did it (Sorry I am not aware of previous designer's tenure). Matthius with his persistent experiement on material also presented an interesting proposition. Here, nothing is that interesting or has a unqie point of view just like the new CK lady. She did it with intreciatto leather but what else?

Tomas maier in bv was everything... luxurious, desirable, free from any gimmicks. And a lot of clever but not in your face usage of the inteecciato. His take on it wasnt as cringey as lees, nlazy or trotter. I dont know if the 1 second of fame they had with lee was worth losing their maier clients for.

 

[Frederic01]

Tomas maier in bv was everything... luxurious, desirable, free from any gimmicks. And a lot of clever but not in your face usage of the inteecciato. His take on it wasnt as cringey as lees, nlazy or trotter. I dont know if the 1 second of fame they had with lee was worth losing their maier clients for.

I think it was "worth it" in the eyes of Kering, as Daniel Lee helped position the brand in the fashion conversation and also steer Bottega towards €2 billion in sales, which was essentially double what the brand was doing under Tomas Maier.

 

[RosesAreRed]

Only time will tell... I think BV could benefit form a more classy twist again, less fashion-forward. In my opinion they also used most of fashion cards they caould forge from their design codes. Doing more crazy edgy fashion stuff may be seen as "tryiong to hard" and may backlash as going too far from its identity. So going for an updated, modern, but classy brand image may be smart move – to take on potential customers of Ferragamo, Bally, Row etc.

 

[Mody]

Tomas maier in bv was everything... luxurious, desirable, free from any gimmicks. And a lot of clever but not in your face usage of the inteecciato. His take on it wasnt as cringey as lees, nlazy or trotter. I dont know if the 1 second of fame they had with lee was worth losing their maier clients for.

Thanks for info. Personally, I don’t think brands these days would really have the ‘integrity’ (for the lack of better word) choose a smaller client base than a larger one. No one would say no to more profit, 100% for sure that is not going to be Kerring. They would be forced to do so due to lack of talent and vision. If the myth that Tomas Maier’s that important, they should just hire him back instead of looking for these new patch of designers.
Whether one’s personal POV regarding Lee or Blazy is positive or not, they indeed put BV in the map and help BV grow as a brand. To that I think they have succeeded in their own way just like how Tomas had succeeded in his own way.

 

[Cocteau Stone]

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I don't hate this but there really needs to be some more waist definition in this. Had she got the intreciatto done in a way where the woven was also used to tailor it around the body it could have been wonderful.

With the back flap it just looks like a medieval bib. Again, I don't hate but the execution is just way off.