28 June 2023 |
Pharrell Williams’ first ads also include his version of the brand’s iconic Speedy bag.
Few fashion shows were as highly anticipated as Pharrell Williams’ debut at Louis Vuitton earlier this month. The brand took over Paris’ Pont Neuf for a gold gilded runway that featured over 74 looks that showcased Williams’ vision for the future — a mixture of tailoring, pixelated camouflage, and playful takes on Louis Vuitton’s signature Damier print. Given the excitement around the event, the celebrity-filled front row was equally as impressive as the likes of Zendaya and Megan Thee Stallion sat side-by-side with Kim Kardashian, Beyonce and Jay-Z (the latter also pulled double duty as the evening’s performer), and A$AP Rocky and Rihanna. That last famous name shouldn’t be a surprise — days before the presentation, a gigantic billboard of the superstar clutching multiple bags was plastered across the Musee D’Orsay as a teaser to the big event. And now, you can check out Rihanna’s entire campaign shoot.
Styled by Cynthia Lu and Matthew Henson, long-time collaborators of Williams, the photographs by Keizō Kitajima and Martine Syms not only highlight Rihanna and her pregnancy bump but also Williams’ first major bag for the brand, a spin on the classic Speedy. Being that it was the first bag he ever owned, it’s also inspired by Williams’ early education in luxury, namely Canal Street in New York City. The new version is slouchier and colorful — a bag that’s equal parts luxurious and everyday, made for the hustle that you’d experience living in any big city around the world.
As for Rihanna, Williams put it best in his quote to The New York Times, “What I love about this is, it’s the biggest fashion house in the world, and that is a Black woman with child.” Like Virgil Abloh before him, this new era for Louis Vuitton is one that’s more expansive and inclusive as epitomized by these images. See them all below.
