Pharrell Williams Makes His Debut at Louis Vuitton Menswear

by Annika Lautens June 21, 2023

Pharrell Williams was named the new creative director of Louis Vuitton Menswear on Valentine’s Day. Coincidence? He thinks not. “It’s like love at first sight,” he told WWD on June 19. “LV is for Louis Vuitton, but it’s also for lovers, you know: lovers of the moment, lovers of detail, lovers of this time and people who want to absolutely squeeze the best out of life, down to the last drop.”

No one could accuse Williams of not living his life to the fullest. Already a celebrated music producer, rapper and singer (hello, 13 Grammys!), the 50-year-old multi-hyphenate has steadily been transitioning into a fashion mainstay since the early 2000s. He collaborated with Adidas, Chanel and Tiffany & Co. He wore a hat in 2014 that launched a thousand memes. And on June 20, 2023, the Pharrell Williams vision for Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring 2024 was unveiled on the Pont Neuf in Paris.

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So what does the heritage brand, formerly helmed by the late, great Virgil Abloh, look like under the tutelage of the “Happy” singer? Basically, the most stylish high school student you’ve ever seen in a uniform crafted from the iconic LV Damier checkerboard pattern. Yellow checks, brown checks, green checks, denim checks, checks that look like pixelated camo (now coined “Damoflage”), checks as far as the eye could see!

The collection featured an assortment of school stereotypes: there were preppy academics, dressed for success in suits and ties. We saw jocks in varsity jackets and slinky tracksuits with pearl piping down the seams, and band leaders in cropped maroon coats with matching berets. And who could ignore the “I woke up like this” slackers who stumbled out of bed in oversized Louis Vuitton animal slippers?

Sure, the collection was a bit of a collage of this and that, but the overwhelming theme, true to Williams’s words, was love and joy. The phrase“LV is for Lovers”made its way onto various bags and jackets, and a passionate gospel choir sang a William’s original about the power of joy. And you could feel the love from the audience. Williams showed off his star status with a guest list that would rival the Met Gala. Beyoncé took a break from her Renaissance tour and stunned in a custom yellow ensemble. Rihanna proudly flaunted her pregnant belly in denim Damoflage. Zendaya sparkled in a sequined two-piece. Kim Kardashian looked ready for the gym in Louis Vuitton athleisure. And the VIP attendees just kept coming: Jay-Z, A$AP Rocky, LeBron James, Tyler The Creator, Megan Thee Stallion, Jared Leto, Naomi Campbell and Lenny Kravitz all showed up to support Pharrell.

In case you missed it, we’ve rounded up a few of our favourite looks from the debut of Pharrell Williams at Louis Vuitton, both on and off the runway.