On Tuesday at the Jardin d’acclimatation amusement park, just steps from Fondation Louis Vuitton, a backdrop of reimagined rocky mountains from the American West anchored Louis Vuitton’s men’s Fall/Winter 2024 show. For designer Pharrell Williams’s third collection for the French maison, this Western iconography was a touchpoint of inspiration, sourced from his birth country and its interest in traveling far and wide.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Inspired by the Wardrobe of the American West
From his home state of Virginia to the Wild West, the people, places, and wardrobes seen between destinations were illuminated with Louis Vuitton’s esteemed savoir-faire. Elements of classic dressing—like trousers paired with a top, complemented by a coat and hat—were reworked to reflect the craftsmanship also found in the American West, like hand-painting, embroidery techniques, and working with precious gems to adorn.
Pharrell Williams Looks to the Cowboy
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
To begin, Williams created an artistic partnership with the American illustrator Ron Husband—an acclaimed animator who worked for Walt Disney Animation Studios for nearly 40 years—to create and promote his vision of the first cowboy. From there, the collection took ideas from a cowboy’s wardrobe and honored the details that made it intrinsic to the American Western look. Elevated, and very much embedded with the Louis Vuitton DNA, each garment seen on the sand-colored runway grabbed attention for extra flair—from pearl-and-sequin embroideries on denim to floral motifs printed onto garments.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Louis Vuitton’s Latest Looks Rooted in the American West
Set to the tunes only a Grammy-award-winning producer and musician could conjure and co-create himself—like “The Spirit of Saturday Night Live” by Native Voices of Resistance and Williams, “Doctor” by Miley Cyrus and Williams, and “Shotgun Wedding” by Jelly Roll and Williams—looks passed by with Western pizzaz, first with fringe flicked up from cowboy boots, chaps, and jacket trim. Long coats with structured lapels were paired with tops in the same tone and adorned with turquoise buttons. Above, matching earrings were seen in the same stone, and below, a new Speedy in the same blue hue was tightly clutched.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
New Louis Vuitton Cowboy Boots, Speedy Bags, and More
Steel-tipped boots and pony hair shoes created a dialogue with handbags in the same materials and finishes, while standout pieces—like one pair of Louis Vuitton leather-covered Timberland boots carried in a transparent box case—caught attention alone. Other outfits were completed with loosely-tied Louis Vuitton ribbons in lieu of ties; LV belt buckles reminiscent of rodeo staples; double-breasted blazers, duster coats, or jackets in an array of plaid or Western-themed patterns; wide-leg denim chaps worn over jeans in the same wash; all-leather cowboy hats with hat bands dotted by silver LV buckles; camel-colored workwear gloves with studs around the brand’s monogram; and lassos in contrasting colors with clips on their tips hanging from belt loops.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Accessories like sunglasses, bolo ties, socks, jewelry, and bag tags delighted the eye to fine-crafted details of texture, color, and pattern combinations. Other items were seen peeking out of duffel bag pockets and clipped to bag loops, like red handkerchiefs, decks of cards, and flasks. And the plethora of bags—with absolutely no shortage in color, material, silhouette, or style—turned heads for their stupendous and flamboyant designs, while models hefting carts of trunks appeared every few minutes, pushing pieces with red-checkered prints, Damier patterns, and gold-hued styles.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Pharrell Williams Teams Up with Mumford & Sons and Native Voices of Resistance
For the finale, “snow” fell from the sky and the backdrop turned into a Western winter wonderland, and every single model lined up in two single file lines. To Mumford & Sons and Williams’s collaborative song “Good People,” Williams then appeared in Western gear, walking past the crowd clapping before putting together his hands in prayer, and taking a bow with the cast behind him joining in to do the same. As he walked to his family for an embrace, the Louis Vuitton atelier emerged to join him for a final bow. The Native American music group Native Voices of Resistance then took to the stage to play individual hand drums, as Williams joined them in walking off the set.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
After the show, “Good People” was performed live by Williams, Mumford & Sons, and Native Voices of Resistance, and its hook—“Good people have been down for so long”—rang through Paris. In that moment, the blend of fashion, art, music, and history seemed to acknowledge the cowboy theme’s deeper meaning, paying homage to the people who came before him in America and beyond. “Welcome to the revelation!” Williams exclaimed.
