Pharrell's Second Louis Vuitton Runway Took Over Hong Kong
Pharrell Williams elected to go beast mode, as the kids say, for his second Louis Vuitton menswear runway show.
Rather than scale back from the enormous presentation that Louis Vuitton hosted on Paris' historic Pont Neuf bridge in June, Pharrell took over Hong Kong's Avenue of Stars with his next LV Men's collection, which was no less extravagant than his first offering.
We're talking hundreds of looks, dudes decked out in glittery Hawaiian shirts, some of the biggest celebs in China — no small potatoes.
Loaded with droolworthy statement pieces — hello, pink Speedy! — Pharrell's LV runway show was a literal crowdpleaser, considering that most of the people in attendance were the folks who actually buy this stuff.
It's worth remembering that Pharrell's first Louis Vuitton offering still hasn't officially released, even. That collection, LV Spring/Summer 2024, ought to begin rolling out to stores in early 2024, though some bits have likely already trickled into LV flagship shops.
Though it may feel like Pharrell's Louis Vuitton clothes are already among us, given how many famous people have been repping his new gear over the past several months. A$AP Rocky, Rihanna, Travis Scott, Lil Uzi Vert, LeBron James, Pharrell himself (natch): they've all flexed the SS24 LV menswear goods long before their actual release.
And then there's the bags. Oh boy, is there the bags. LV friends 'n fam like JAY-Z, Jacob Elordi, and sacai designer Chitose Abe have all flexed Pharrell's neon-hued Speedy duffle bag — a blindingly loud accessory inspired by bootleg LV bags, according to Pharrell — and LeBron memorably toted one in his sudden star turn as a Louis Vuitton model, following in the well-shod footsteps of Rih-Rih.
But that's to not even speak of the main event, the aptly named "Millionaire" bag. These $1 million treasures are granted to only the most elite LV VIPs, like 21 Savage and PJ Tucker. Made of croc leather dyed in the eye-wateringly bright tones now typical of Pharrell's Louis Vuitton, the Millionaire bag is perhaps more singularly indicative of Skateboard P's overarching vision for the maison than anything else.
These bags are over the top, utterly indulgent, and unapologetically opulent, in a wink-y playful kinda way. Even folks who disdain Pharrell's LV run have to give him that — regardless of how they felt about his vivaciously varied offering, there was ample joy on display.
With the only limit being Pharrell's imagination, especially considering that LV has unlimited artistic capability (and budget), I'd say that Pharrell delivered a sequel worth bragging about in Hong Kong.
However, I'd have thought that we'd be getting a sneak preview from Skateboard, the IYKYK Instagram page operated by the Louis Vuitton menswear design team, which was wildly active in the lead-up to Pharrell's LV debut but now has lain dormant for months.
On the day of the show, though, we got a couple quick BTS clips from the LV team. Thanks guys!
Not that our feeds are gonna be lacking any Pharrell LV for the coming days, if not weeks. The only thing missing was Beyoncé.
