ARGUABLY the most-anticipated film of the year, the James Bond franchise returns with its 25th film, No Time to Die, notably Daniel Craig’s final film as the British secret agent.
Starring alongside the actor, Ana de Armas plays Paloma, a Cuban agent and Léa Seydoux reprises the character of Madeleine Swann, Bond’s love interest.
Léa Seydoux in Louis Vuitton
Ana de Armas in Louis Vuitton
The film premiered in London’s Royal Albert Hall after being delayed three times due to the coronavirus pandemic, hosting the cast, fans of the series and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Louis Vuitton kindly invited Glass to have an exclusive look at the gowns worn by Ana and Léa on Tuesday evening.
The making of Léa Seydoux’s Louis Vuitton dress
The original sketch of Léa Seydoux’s Louis Vuitton dress
Léa Seydoux’s Louis Vuitton Dress
Léa Seydoux wore a custom, embroidered white silk georgette crêpe dress finished with pleated details and a cape that is attached at the nape.
The construction of the dress was executed by hand separately as the dress, top, skirt, belt and cape finally came together after a total of 300 hours of hand-embroidery was done – then, it took the Louis Vuitton atelier a further 220 hours to piece each part together.
Léa Seydoux’s Louis Vuitton dress
The back of Léa Seydoux’s Louis Vuitton dress
Detailing of Léa Seydoux’s Louis Vuitton dress
Together, the dress and cape equated 29,000 sequins over 50,000 cuvettes with more than 8,800 glass beads in four different sizes.
The sketch of Ana de Armas’ Louis Vuitton dress
The making of Ana de Armas’ Louis Vuitton dress
The thigh-high split of Ana de Armas’ Louis Vuitton dress
Ana de Armas went for a darker look in a custom Louis Vuitton velvet dress with chain-effect straps detailing. The bias-cut boasted a deep V décolleté bringing some sex appeal to the red carpet that was emphasised with a thigh high side split.
Beneath the seams, a complex internal construction helps keep the dress together and form a structure that highlights Ana’s figure, as the top is stitched to the skirt at the waist.
Ana de Armas’ Louis Vuitton dress
A close-up of Ana de Armas’ Louis Vuitton dress
Bringing an element of technology into this piece of couture, the chains are 3D patterns created digitally with laser cutting to ensure precision. Entirely embroidered, the two straps contain 7,520 Japanese beads, 980 glass beads and 820 rhinestones requiring over 103 hours to put together.
Together, the two stars dazzled the runway shining both off and on-screen.
by Imogen Clark
Imagery courtesy of Louis Vuitton and Grégoire Vieille