PHARRELL WILLIAMS X LOUIS VUITTON: MODERNIZING THE FRONTIER WITH DANDYISM, SNOWFALL, AND INDIGENOUS STORIES
Pharrell Williams turned the fashion world into his personal Wild West frontier with his latest Louis Vuitton collection, unveiled amidst wintry conditions reminiscent of Montana. In his second Louis Vuitton show, Williams transported the brand to the Jardin d’Acclimatation in Bois de Boulogne, constructing a colossal set behind the Fondation Vuitton.
Luxury titan Bernard Arnault, known for his love of grand spectacles, witnessed a spectacular show orchestrated by Pharrell Williams, who enlisted Disney’s Ron Husband to illustrate the designer’s vision of the “first cowboy.” Models strutted before a giant screen depicting the Rockies, blending elements of Monument Valley and High Plains Drifter. As the show progressed, snowfall on the screen mirrored faux snowflakes cascading onto the audience.
The collection reimagined Western archetypes as Louis Vuitton dandies. Armed bandits showcased embroidered denim boots and Doc Halliday frock coats. Ranchers sported saddlery leather vests or denim jackets embroidered with desert flowers.
Sheriffs, on the hunt for outlaws, donned felted wool pea coats or yellow Badlands overcoats. Timberland collaborated on the boots, and a limited edition will feature LV monograms in gold.
Cattle ranchers, not couturiers, donned oversized coats with turquoise button accents, cowboy boots with metal-tipped toes adorned with LV and Texas motifs, and cowboy hats.
The show featured a cast of women in cream suede shirts, raw leather chaps, and chain belts with LV riding buckles or frilly schoolgirl shirts – a High Noon hipster style.
Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Marcus Mumford, Venus Williams, Marco Verratti, and Paris Saint Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma graced the front row to witness the unveiling of these avant-garde Western ensembles.
Pharrell Williams continued to showcase his iconic costume – flared trousers and double-breasted pocketless jackets – in pristine white wool and faded denim, accented with fabric cacti. The collection even incorporated some Minecraft-inspired looks, harking back to Williams’ previous collection on the Pont Neuf in June.
Not adhering to PETA standards, Williams showcased stunning furs, including a wild red fox fur coat and a couture-worthy white mink coat, shaved into a checkerboard pattern.
The finale featured the Native Voices of Resistance, singing and drumming, their garments designed to narrate the historical ties between Vuitton and the Dakota and Lakota tribes.
While slightly transgressive, with kilts for boys and a diverse cast, the show was a sensation, earning Pharrell and his team thunderous applause. Critics may argue that the collection didn’t advance fashion or present a groundbreaking paradigm, but it achieved a useful goal. This runway was a massive success, further elevating Vuitton’s temperature, making it the hottest men’s clothing brand in the fashion world, with a staggering €20 billion in revenue.
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