- Pharrell Williams Takes Center Stage as Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Creative Director at Paris Fashion Week
- Pont Neuf Transformed into Star-Studded Disco for Pharrell’s Debut Show
- Rihanna’s Pregnancy Reveal Steals the Spotlight at Pharrell’s Fashion Extravaganza
Beyonce, Jay-Z, and Rihanna were in attendance as Pharrell Williams dominated Paris Fashion Week.
Tuesday evening marked the début of the musician-turned-designer as Louis Vuitton’s men’s creative director.
He transformed the city’s oldest bridge, Pont Neuf, into a celebrity-filled, gold-carpeted disco with gospel undertones.
It was the first show since the passing of his predecessor, erstwhile Kanye West collaborator, and industry pioneer Virgil Abloh.
The event, which was also attended by NBA superstar LeBron James, actress Zendaya, reality personality Kim Kardashian, and supermodel Naomi Campbell, was essentially a concert, spectacle, and party in addition to a fashion show.
After the night, Jay-Z performed on the bridge, with Pharrell making an appearance on their respective songs I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me) and Frontin’.
Rihanna, on the other hand, became popular after she donned a Pharrell-designed “camouflage print” outfit that revealed her growing baby bump.
Williams, 50, told AFP before the performance that he understood the history of black culture’s domination.
“I believe that these corporations are slowly realizing that we have flavor and something very interesting to offer,” he said.
Historically and factually, it’s been whitewashed, but while that’s been difficult for us. It’s made it easier on the taste front because we bring such a striking contrast.”
He added, “It’s striking when you see LeBron James wearing something when you hear Jay-Z’s lyrics, and when you see and hear Beyonce, the energy and voice.”
The NERD and Neptunes rapper, singer, and producer paid tribute to Abloh, who died of cancer at 41 in 2021. Williams explained, “We worked together on a few projects.” Spiritually, his vitality is still very much present.
