2023-06-21 02:00:40
© Reuters. Louis Vuitton show with clothes created by designer Pharrell Williams 06/20/2023 REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
By Mimosa Spencer
PARIS (Reuters) – For his debut collection at Louis Vuitton (EPA:), Pharrell Williams drew his worldwide audience to the Pont Neuf in Paris, kicking off his tenure as creative director of menswear with an outdoor show packed with celebrities, which anchored the brand a little more in popular culture.
Models walked the runway to live music, sporting pearl-embellished or furry outerwear and bright print jackets in all colors and sizes. Audiences gathered along the River Seine, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the show, which continued Louis Vuitton’s approach to blending street style with luxury.
“I’m the second black man to have this experience on the planet, the biggest fashion house in the world,” said Williams, in an interview before the show, referring to the position he has held since February.
Best known as a singer-songwriter on songs like “Happy” and “Blurred Lines”, Williams, 50, ended months of speculation by replacing friend Virgil Abloh, who held the position from March 2018 until he died in November 2021. Abloh was the industry’s most important black designer, credited with forging a space for urban style and stripped-down skater looks within high-end fashion.
The selection of Williams raised some questions, despite his extensive experience in fashion, including founding urban brands with Japanese designer Nigo and designing capsule collections for Chanel.
Williams has brushed aside skeptics who question her lack of formal fashion training. “I also didn’t go to Juilliard to learn music and I’m doing ok,” she said.
(Reporting by Mimosa Spencer; Additional reporting by Helen Reid)
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