It’s another season in the books for Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton and it really seems like he one-ups himself every time. This season, though, the pressure was on since he was showing his collection at the legendary Louvre so he rang up a trusty, old friend and, well, Nigo answered - and he brought his vast archive with him.
Entering the Louvre, you could really tell how grand the occasion was. With a circular setup that housed the orchestra in the middle, the outer edge had LV flowers stamped on silver metal light boxes - the outermost edge of the circle was turned into the runway with the front row sitting right in front and inside the circle below the orchestra. Seemingly cramped at first, as the show went on, it became clear that this was really an intimate, special moment. Housed in one of the most famous art institutions in the world, it was also about to be immortalised into contemporary fashion history.
The space immersed the audience with a sensory experience that also had DJ Mopapa symphonies and Pharrell-produced bangers like “Timeless” by The Weeknd and Playboi Carti in the background - really had the FROW head banging. The names in the house were just as big as the occasion, too, with Travis Scott, J-Hope, Skepta and even Bradley Cooper all in attendance.
With a collection centred around friendship, it was only right they honed in on streetwear - the thing that brought them together in the first place. They dug deep into the archives for refreshed takes on their all-time favourites, making sure to add their cultural backgrounds in the process with hip-hop and traditional Japanese references. The duo really showed their maturity, too, through immaculate, detailed tailoring that proves that they are where they belong: the pinnacle of luxury fashion.
This wasn’t just any collection by Louis Vuitton so getting through every little detail might take months of researching and referencing but here are some of our highlights:
A friendship rooted in streetwear
Even though the pair of them have gone on to be at the very top of high fashion at Kenzo and Louis Vuitton, Pharrell and Nigo never forgot the importance of what really brought them together in the first place: streetwear. The influence of it in the collection was undeniable, from varsity jackets that look like they could’ve been a 2000s Billionaire Boys Club collab to cuffless LV Monogram beanies to even a custom LV camo which screamed ‘90s BAPE. It’s a perfect ode to their domination of hip-hop style in the early 2000s and a luxury homage to their progression in the fashion industry that they’ve both taken, side by side (literally, with a graphic of their heads and a bag titled “Phriendship” lol).
A LVERS letter to the homeland
Being such a collaborative milestone for the both of them, they couldn’t help but leave their own cultural fingerprints all over the place. Pharrell never shies away from his love of Hip-Hop and what even gave him the entryway to fashion, with his own spin on the emblematic Coogi sweater and a tracksuit set dressed up in full leather.
The Japanese influence in the collection is impossible to ignore too, with a leather kimono-like jacket that drapes over some looks, Yohji Yamamoto-esque pleating on wide bottoms and even a gyoza-shaped pouch that dangles on bags like a charm. Some of the colour names even have a Japanese twist to them: “yuzu yellow, sencha green and sakura pink.”
Aging like fine wine
It seems like being at the helm of luxury fashion has taught the duo a thing or two about tailoring, with hints of ‘60s skinny cuts and ‘70s flared silhouettes dominating the suiting. Pharrell and Nigo made sure to add their Midas touch to it, though, with ‘90s Japanese-inspired asymmetrical buttoning on black blazers as well as embellished buttons in the form of the LV flower for a touch of glimmer and interest. Despite the decades-old inspirations, the overall cuts represent the current trends, with blazers cut shorter to accommodate the rule of thirds.
Accessories that never miss
One thing that Louis Vuitton never disappoints with are the accessories and this season is no exception. The classic LV Monogram is back (obviously) but with updated cargo pocket detailing whilst Keepalls are given a refresh with exotic Croc leathers in all of Pharrell’s favourite bright colours. New life is even breathed into the Trunks with a re-interpretation by Azuma Makoto, a Japanese flower artist, who’s bound to become every real baller’s go-to travel flex.
Don’t forget to check the frames too, with new shapes like the “LV Frog” and “Worker” sunglasses being a reinvention of the Millionaire 1.0s that Pharrell and Nigo designed together back in 2004.
Archive dreams every night
We love archive as much as the next fashion mf but Pharrell and Nigo might have outdone us. We’ve all seen that video of Nigo’s archive collection and it’s pretty clear to us that he went digging in there again for some inspo. There are countless workwear references sprinkled in throughout the looks with vintage Carhartt-inspired details like double-knees on bottoms, riveted pockets reminiscent of the Carhartt Chore Coat and the world-famous Detroit jacket shape with the corduroy collar. Their shared love for denim is on full show, too, with a whole denim suit look (or “juit,” as we like to call it) that’s pretty hard to miss and hints of selvedge indigo throughout.
Featured image via Louis Vuitton©
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