Photo: JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP VIA GETTY
Pharell Williams debuted his first outing as the Creative Director of the Men’s Division of Louis Vuitton in Paris to bated breath. This marked the first time that a musician took the helm of a prestigious fashion house with over a century of history and commanding billions of dollars of market share. Fashion commentators were intrigued but cautiously so. Even with the knowledge of Williams’ impeccable fashion sense both on the red carpet and off, one’s sense of personal style doesn’t guarantee a seamless transition to Creative Direction.
Beyonce, Zendaya Photo: BEST IMAGE/BACKGRID
Being part of the celebrity class, the Louis Vuitton front row was filled with familiar faces, friends of Williams and the House alike. Beyoncé and Jay Z, Rihanna, and A$AP Rocky, Jared Leto and Kim Kardashian as well as Jaden and Willow Smith, Megan Thee Stallion, Kelly Rowland, Lenny Kravitz, Tyler the Creator, and Maluma among many more were all showing their support. Together with the heightened anticipation of Williams’ first go and the mega-stardom watching it all play out, this turned into a pop culture moment that has rivaled any fashion show presentation of recent memory.
With all the excitement in the air, the show commenced and the collective fashion scene was delighted with a fun yet elevated offering of fashion looks. Williams played with the iconic LV logo and prints in all its various iterations. He continued to build on the pixelated motif that the late Abloh introduced in 2019. As well as highlighting the Alma bag during Marc Jacobs’ tenure. The color palette was both saturated and deep- greens, navy, gray, purple, and red. The fabrics were also plentiful with a focus on the LV supple leather taking center attention. There was a focus on experimentation with jewelry, shoes, bags, and surprisingly socks. For his first foray into the world of directorial fashion, Williams did a stand-out job. The presentation was fun and enjoyable. The pieces were chic yet also very wearable which will delight every LV fan.
It’ll be fun to see where he takes the creative reins in seasons to come, bringing a new perspective that we haven’t experienced in this fashion space before.
Written By: Charles Fratto
