PHARRELL WILLIAMS LIGHTS UP PARIS FOR LOUIS VUITTON

Once in a while, you get to witness an event you know will remain in the collective memory. Pharrell Williams’ first show for Louis Vuitton was one of those occasions. The Men’s Creative Director presented his Spring-Summer 2024 collection in the fashion capital of the world on a summer evening in 2023. And the City of Light sparkled!

The invitation set the scene: a stained-glass window, a setting sun, one of the best-known bridges in Paris and the inscription “LVers” – a reference to Williams’ home state of Virginia and the Maison’s iconic logo. It promised all the makings of an unforgettable evening.  

Let’s start with the location. Iconic for several reasons, Pont Neuf was the first stone bridge to span the Seine when it was built back in the 16th century. It has since been immortalized by a multitude of artists, becoming a powerful symbol of poetry and aesthetics. Today, its majestic arches create a visual link between past and present, an iconic element in the city’s timeless magic. Staging the show on this historical edifice adjacent to Louis Vuitton headquarters was a nod to the Maison’s enduring attachment to the city where it was born and has flourished – and to the art of travel so deeply ingrained in its DNA. What better backdrop for inspiring dreams than the sparkle of the stars reflected off the Seine? 

As darkness fell over the city, the show began, illuminating the sky and electrifying the atmosphere. For the first time ever, the bridge morphed into a catwalk, with models striding along its golden checkerboard motif surface to showcase looks that blurred the boundaries between art and fashion, elevating savoir-faire and artistic expression to new heights. 

The collection was a tribute to creativity, innovation and artisanal excellence, as well as beauty in all its forms. Alongside bright colors, it featured plenty of Louis Vuitton hallmarks: stylized Ls and Vs, pieces stamped with the Marque L. Vuitton Déposée logo pulled from the archives and outfits in “Damouflage”, a cross between camo and the Maison’s iconic Damier check.  

Pharrell Williams gradually unveiled his vision, perpetuating the Maison’s time-honored genius for visual narration and taking it to the next level. With everything from a gospel choir and a symphony orchestra to stunning scenography, not to mention a star-studded guest list and a soundtrack produced by the Creative Director himself, the show was simply spectacular. Pharrell Williams succeeded in pursuing Louis Vuitton’s much-loved captivating dialogue with the arts Maison, contributing his own visionary ethos.  

A celebration of diversity and an ode to the art of collaboration, the show ushered in a new era for Louis Vuitton, where the frontiers between creative disciplines fade away to reveal a shared vision that’s bold and inspiring. This was an invitation not only to watch and wonder but to explore new horizons, start new conversations and define new standards of creativity and innovation. In short, an invitation to dream.