Hundreds were on their feet on the Pont Neuf bridge earlier this week, happy and clapping along to the heavenly choir vocals as Pharrell Williams walked down the gold-checkered floor, bowing profusely in gratitude. If you didn’t catch the reference in the first sentence, you are missing out on some serious Pharrell magic, which, we have to admit, was very much at play during Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2024 runway show!
Some may be taken aback by Pharrell’s name popping up in Louis Vuitton show headlines because what’s a musician doing being the men’s creative director of one of the biggest fashion houses in the world? Louis Vuitton said it all in their statement about Pharrell, calling him a “visionary whose creative universes expand from music to art, and to fashion.”
All doubts aside, Williams did not disappoint with his Louis Vuitton debut, which also served as a nod to the late Virgil Abloh, Pharrell’s predecessor and first Black person to be the artistic director for LV’s menswear line. The show was exceptionally well executed, with a display of more than seventy show-stopping looks that just screamed fresh, fire, and fashionable!
Centered around the reinvented Damier print, a lot of the new “LV-overs” motif, and the famous Speedy handbag, Pharrell hit the nail right on the head with his debut collection. Keep scrolling for details on the show, its celebrity attendees, and key looks!
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Pharrell Williams’ Louis Vuitton Debut: A Stunningly Fresh Perspective
Thirteen-time Grammy Award winner Pharrell Williams is an African-American producer and singer-songwriter who currently holds the post of artistic director for Louis Vuitton’s menswear line. Known for his incredible impact on the 21st-century Western music scene, Pharrell’s talents and potential regarding fashion have largely been overlooked and left unlocked. That is, until this year.
2023’s Valentine’s Day marked a shift in Pharrell’s career as that was the day he was announced to be the late Virgil Abloh’s successor as artistic director of the Louis Vuitton menswear line. The decision was the result of a lot of pondering and a little bit of risk-taking from LV’s side, and the aftermath did not let anyone down.
Virgil Abloh was the first Black person to be in the position that he held at LV, and his contributions to the fashion industry were like no other. His death had the world of fashion shaken, giving rise to discussions on his successor and whether there really was anyone who could fill his shoes. To everyone’s surprise, Pharrell Williams, a celebrity untrained in design, was declared to take over the position, drawing criticism for the fashion house’s decision to favor him above British designers Grace Wales Bonner and Martine Rose.
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The public may or may not have recalled how Pharrell had dabbled in fashion quite a lot and had found success in his own streetwear label called the ‘Billionaire Boys Club.’ He also did work with Louis Vuitton to release eyewear in collaboration with other designers. However, many were right to be skeptical as he was relatively inexperienced in design and was not at the top of the list of people who have what it takes to be the creative lead for a line from one of the biggest fashion houses in the world.
Pharrell’s appointment is undoubtedly one of a kind since he is the first celebrity to hold this position in LV history. CEO Pietro Beccari expressed that he was aware that the decision was a risk and that he only took it because he wanted to steer away from choosing traditional designers to succeed the legendary Virgil Abloh.
He said he wanted to choose someone with something extra and someone who is creative and who “touches people’s hearts, through music, collaborations.” He wanted someone who would be able to complement Nicolas Ghesquière’s work on the womenswear line. “It’s a perfect mix for a brand that is present in 72 countries with 450 stores and which not only sells products but tells great stories,” Beccari said.
Appointing a Black person to fill in the position that Virgil once held was noteworthy to many, including Pharrell, who acknowledged how the designer ushered in a new era appreciating the infusion of Black culture in luxury fashion. Pharrell stated in his show notes that his debut show was dedicated to the “giant” before him and his “brother in spirit,” referring to Virgil. He said he felt like he was “collaborating with his spirit.”
Pharrell also commented on how Black people are breaking barriers and changing the narrative, saying that one cannot imagine what is possible when one comes from a culture that has been held back and set in disadvantaged situations. He went on, saying that the narrative is changing and the people of his community are being recognized and admired for their potential, although in small amounts that aren’t nearly enough. Nevertheless, he expressed how honored he is to be part of that change and pointed out the significance of a French house going back to America, Virgil’s home space, finding another Black man, and giving “the keys” to Pharrell.
Despite the skepticism and criticism, Pharrell forged ahead with his debut. That was all it took to shut down the critics and skeptics. The show was more than just a runway show. It was a celebration, a party with famous faces, concerts, and many other things that stepped beyond the bounds of fashion. He unleashed his creative side in a way that convinced everyone that a new era of funky, unique, and fresh fashion was approaching them.
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Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2024 Show Was More Than Just A Runway Show
What could be more fitting for a debut runway location than a wondrously beautiful gold-checkered Pont Neuf above the glittering waters of Seine, bathed in streams of moonlight from the skies of Paris?
Attendees of the ‘Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2024 Show’ were lucky enough to witness the spectacle that was Pharrell’s debut show. They began the entire experience by riding the Seine waters on a bateau mouche under the setting sun to reach the venue. They then proceeded to step onto the Pont Neuf that had been carpeted in gold foil that was laid out in a checkered pattern replicating the classic Damier motif.
The guests were numbered to be above a thousand and included an elite list of celebrity attendees such as Rihanna, Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, DiCaprio, Zendaya, and many more.
The show was a delight from beginning to end as more than seventy amazing looks were showcased as models strutted down the gold runway to the tempos of songs sung by the spectacular gospel choir. The songs did not end there. Instead, the crowd was surprised by a Jay-Z concert comprising live renditions of songs such as “N***as in Paris,” “Public Service Announcement (Interlude),” “Change Clothes,” and more.
Following the models’ sexy struts, Pharrell took a few steps onto the gold bridge to face two standing crowds putting their hands together for him. Pharrell, dressed in a suit with a camo color palette and pixelated pattern, walked across the bridge, bowing his head at the crowd, expressing his gratitude for their presence. Emotions ran high as the star of the show went up to his family in the crowd, who wore the same suits, and held them in a tight hug. Soon after, Williams kept bowing profusely and even knelt to the ground, overwhelmed with the amount of support he received.
Finally, the monumental moment arrived when the design team streamed out, and Pharrell ran back to meet them and face the crowds with them. Pharrell also took a moment to kneel in front of them, giving them the recognition they deserved for their creative work.
Watch the complete runway show here!
“Damoflage,” LVERs and The Speedy Handbags Galore
LV CEO Beccari revealed that he told Pharrell to approach the collection in a way that its pieces would instill the idea that Louis Vuitton is also the master of tailoring a dandy man who wants to be somewhat more elegant. And Beccari said that the approach was not a difficult one to take since it embodied what Pharrell’s usual style is like. In fact, Beccari even said, “What you see on the catwalk is Pharrell multiplied by 70 looks.”
The set of looks was indeed a reflection of Pharrell and elements from his fashion. Some also pointed out that there were parts where Abloh shone through too. Following the theme “lovers,” Williams introduced a new logo where the word lovers were rewritten with an LV touch as ‘LVERS.’
A major portion of the looks was decked out in the Damier print but in a way that was reinvented by Pharrell. The checks were not in their typical brownish hues. Instead, they were in bright new funky colors, sometimes pixelated and called “Damoflage,” and sometimes in a cam color palette.
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The Speedy Handbag was another focal point in this show, with it decked out in the same funky new Damier print inspired by the Canal Street LV knockoffs. Pharrell wanted to pull an uno reverse and mimic Canal Street this time by introducing new colors for the Damier pattern and churning out products made of high-quality material. He wanted to make the bags with the “finest of leather.”
Pharrell’s fresh take on “accessories and leather goods that have made LV so successful” gained him praise for showing that he truly gets what LV’s agenda and codes are. Pharrell also introduced a practice of female models walking for the menswear line.
“By parading women for his first collection, Pharrell Williams is blowing a new wind at Louis Vuitton where until then, male and female models were separated,” said Pierre A. M’Pele, editor for GQ France.
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Famous Faces Flock At The LV Spring/Summer 2024 Runway Show
Pharrell seemed to have pulled out his phone and texted all his celebrity friends to come back to him at his debut show because, boy, there were a lot of famous faces at this show. Take a look at some of the glamorous stars below!
Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Zendaya
Beyoncé served looks in a canary yellow Louis Vuitton ensemble as she sat between Zendaya, who glimmered in a tailored pant and shirt combo with light accessories and loose curls. Jay-Z went basic with a full suit.
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Rihanna and A$AP Rocky
The mother of fashion, Rihanna, was right on the theme as she showed off her baby bump in a denim ensemble decked out in the pixelated Damier print. Her baby daddy, A$AP Rocky, also was decked out in denim with the LV logo splattered across his clothes.
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Kim Kardashian
Business mogul Kim Kardashian also dressed complementarily to the theme, in a bra and leggings that had a checkered pattern all over with a camo color palette.
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Naomi Campbell
World-famous supermodel Naomi rocked an all-leather ensemble with dark sunglasses as she showed off her purple highlights.
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The list went on and on with names like Megan Thee Stallion, LeBron James, Willow Smith, Jaden Smith, ‘Tyler, the Creator,’ Noah Beck, Jared Leto, Maluma, J. Balvin, Lenny Kravitz, Russell Westbrook, Pusha T & No Malice, Kelly Rowland, Coi Leray and many more.
The show was a success in all aspects and is only the beginning of a huge shift in the Louis Vuitton fashion house. Stay tuned for Pharrell’s future ventures and expect more genius shows out of him as he navigates being an artistic director at one of the biggest fashion houses in the world!
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