Louis Vuitton’s New Menswear Presentation in Hong Kong
Yesterday in Hong Kong, Louis Vuitton revealed its men’s Pre-Fall 2024 collection, imagined by its Creative Director Pharrell Williams. Proclaimed to be made for “LVERS,” the new line followed the gravitational pull of the moon in a sweeping concept conceived to connect the citizens of the world—from its venue in Hong Kong to Hawaii and beyond. The rolling tides and those who ride its waves—like sailors, surfers, and fishermen—served as inspiration for the collection, which combined nautical notions, Williams’s quest for invoking joy, and the house’s esteemed luxury codes.
Pharrell Williams was Inspired by Fisherman, Sailors, and Surfers for Louis Vuitton Men’s Pre-Fall 2024
Bathed in moonlight and situated on the edge of the city’s harbor, a palm-lined runway and an ensemble of ukuleles set the tone for the house’s latest looks. The designs that were revealed were playful and elevated, romantic and masculine, calling on archetypes from the inspirational demographics to create a certain freshness in the menswear oeuvre that is rare. Williams’s vast collection featured shapes, styles, and proportions across the board, carefully culling the best details from the free spirit of the surfer, the strength and endurance of the fisherman, and the dandy naval silhouette attributed to sailors.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
At the center of the collection, we saw several themes and ensembles: two-piece suits and matching sets, styles derived from nautical uniforms (sailors’ caps, flare-legged pants, and a certain iconic collar style), vibrant Hawaiian-inspired prints, and the letterman jacket. These core styles were expanded upon to create more than 60 looks, ranging from formal to sportswear. There were double-breasted blazers in leather and pinstripes, sailor silhouettes in all-over denim, high-waisted pants with tucked-in graphic shirts, supple trouser styles with clean-cut tailoring, sartorial shorts with uniform jackets, relaxed collared sets in memorable patterns, and the occasional standout—like a piece of patchworked leather outerwear, cropped overalls, and a windbreaker with asymmetrical zippers.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Whitewall’s Favorites from the Louis Vuitton Men’s Pre-Fall 2024 Collection
One look in particular caught our attention—a gray suit with a pinstripe pattern made from delicate rows of tiny pearl beading, styled simply with a white t-shirt, a beaded necklace, an ornate skinny belt, and a beret reading “Louis Vuitton” in curly script. Things we also loved include several variations of the letterman jacket, like those with sailor collars, appliqued details, and material variations like leather and dark-washed denim; an ensemble comprised of a leather shirt with hibiscus flower appliques, textured shorts, and a woven raffia bucket hat; and a tailored suit with bell-bottom trousers in a hybrid tropical-monogram print.
Not to be overlooked, as well, were the details and accessories completing each look. We saw re-imaginings of signature prints including evolutions of Damier Check in rainbow, the Louis Vuitton monogram with a nautical twist, and sailor tattoos and seashells turned into graphics. Ensembles were paired with a variety of hats and sunglasses (a la Williams’s own personal style), bags variations from large Keepalls and totes to tiny hand-held vessels with leather crabs, and a range of footwear, including the new 3D-printed Cobra slip-on, loafers, boots, sneakers, and leather sandals worn with thick socks.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
