Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2024 men’s collection was presented in Paris, the first designed by Pharrell Williams: ‘pixelated’ prints, poster shirts in pop colors and the most iconic bags appear.
It was the most awaited debut of the year: after a very long search, Louis Vuitton appointed Pharrell Williams as creative director of the men’s line . The artist thus takes the place left vacant by Virgil Abloh , the first African-American designer to hold such a position in a luxury Maison. The first collection designed by the designer was presented in Paris with a spectacular ‘suspended’ fashion show on Pont Neuf in the presence of a veritable parade of stars : Rihanna (pregnant) and Kim Kardashian were in the front row to applaud him , Jared Leto and even Beyonce .
Pharrell Williams’ debut at Louis Vuitton
In this new Paris fashion week dedicated to the Spring/Summer 2024 men’s collections, all eyes in the fashion world were focused on Pharrell Williams: the void left by his disruptive predecessor, Virgil Abloh, was not easy to fill. Pharrell decided to surprise the publication by parading on the Pont Neuf, ironically the oldest bridge in the French capital, close to the Louis Vuitton headquarters. The bridge is not only a location, but it is also a metaphor: Williams’ work aims to symbolically unite Paris, the headquarters of the Maison, and Virginia, his homeland.
Thus was born the logo-manifesto of the collection, LVERS , a play on words between the brand’s figures and the word ‘lovers’. The reference to the United States is evident in the colored varsity jackets, in the maxi rugby shirts and in the ‘reissued’ bowling shoes for the evening. But there is also all the tailoring that characterizes the collection, whose common thread is the ‘checkerboard’ motif, the classic Damier checkerboard graphic by Louis Vuitton, which stands out on pajama sets, oversized shirts, Bermuda shorts, coats.
The Damier is also updated in a ‘pixel’ version , such as grainy, with graphics that recall video games such as Minecraft , defining an approach to formal wear: grainy, printed, or with Bermuda shorts instead of trousers. Or, the pleated skirt, now part of the stylistic codes of Vuitton and beyond. The creative director himself comes out to take the applause with a ‘pixelated army green’ suit.
Following the stylistic example of Virgil Abloh, the new creative director quotes streetwear codes , graffiti prints and blouses with prints inspired by Paris with a dandy inspiration, between jewel details and classic sartorial lines. Pharrell Williams’ contemporary dandies wear suits encrusted with pearls and crystals, carrying to-go coffee mugs as accessories. All the models paraded with the Maison’s most famous bags, from leather suitcases to camouflage backpacks, or rather “damouflage”.
There’s no shortage of pop details, such as the fluo-colored fur-effect coat, furry gloves like ‘paws’ (despite being a summer collection) and slippers with a bear print on the sole, to ‘leave a footprint’ with every step. But above all: sunglasses with small, round lenses, just like those loved by Pharrell Williams.
The bag found in Pharrell’s hand, has many special things and, apparently, above all the price, a six-figure detail that immediately attracted the curiosity and polemical vein of many. It is said that this new trunk, made of fine crocodile leather and equipped with hardware – buckles, rivets, chains – in yellow gold and a padlock with logo covered with diamonds, will have a price of 1 million dollars .
So much for idioms: the Millionaire Bag , as it was immediately renamed, was a new entry from the latest men’s fashion show and, despite the silence of the brand and Williams himself, we imagine it will be talked about a lot. Waiting to find out more and waiting for it to arrive in the Maison’s boutiques, assuming it really arrives there given that the price suggests more of a true collector’s rarity, let’s take a little journey through time and find out more about what it is. always one of the most desired objects by those who love fashion.
The fashion show ends with a performance by Pharrell Williams, multifaceted artist, and Jay-Z. Williams also signed the soundtrack of the show with some original songs: Peace Be Still , with Lang Lang and JOY (Unspeakable) together with Voices of Fire.