All eyes were on Louis Vuitton and Pharrell earlier this week when the newly appointed Creative Director for Louis Vuitton Menswear presented his first collection for the Maison.
Collectively, fashion waited to be wowed and wowed we were, with a massive presentation that showcased a variety of newness. Presented on Paris’ oldest bridge, the Pont Neuf, in direct view of Louis Vuitton’s studios, the collection embodies a connection between Paris and Virginia, the home state of Pharrell Williams.
A Juxtaposition of Two Worlds
Pharrell’s inspirations were clear – with the entire premise of the show surrounding the melding of two worlds, Louis Vuitton’s heritage with his own. The collection embodies love, unifying humans across various cultures and creeds, with inspiration coming from the sun, a guiding light.
That inspiration is seen throughout; there’s the collection’s warm palette, graphic rays, and glistening accessories. American varsity jackets were brought to the next level with Louis Vuitton’s Savoir-Faire. The classic sporty silhouette is reinvented in new textures with pearl embroideries, finished with the LVERS emblem, present throughout the collection; it is an ode to the slogan “Virginia is for lovers.”
Pharrell’s First Bags for Louis Vuitton Men’s 2024
As for the bags? Bold, bright versions of the classics stole the show, from new adaptions of the Speedy to heritage trunks, iconic Damier meets camouflage on bags and accessories alongside bright Monograms. Damier is a clear focus for Pharrell’s inaugural season, reimagined in a macro Atari iteration created by American Pixel artist ET Artist. The new pattern appears on various bags in bold hues like yellow, red, and blue. As for that new version of the classic Speedy? It is an ode to Lower Manhattan’s Canal Street, an everyday icon revived for every walk of life; it’s outfitted in supple-grained calf leather with a softened construction, allowing it to drape and bend in the true way it would with everyday use.
The much buzzed-about collection certainly did not disappoint, marking a new future for the Maison’s menswear but paying homage to its past. View bags from the collection below from the runway and in backstage imagery, courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
