Pharrell Williams - Designer, Creative Director of Louis Vuitton Menswear

[Marc10]

I knew this had his fingerprints all over...

 

[LadyJunon]

I knew this had his fingerprints all over...

The two men on every fashion designer's hit listing.

 

[Cocteau Stone]

Whelmed. Very whelmed by this.

Only surprised by the fact that the industry thinks Pharrell is still a thing. I always forget he exists because he doesn’t really do much nowadays. Career prior to this appointment has been the personification of muzak as of late.

Meanwhile, what on earth is going on with Alexandre’s hair?

 

[Lax89]

So Alexandre is a big fan of Pharrell as a musician and that's why he appointed him. As a French person, it's sad to see what's happening at LV menswear. All the legacy, the luxury, the style are going to waste (thanks Streetwear)

 

[Beun]

So Alexandre is a big fan of Pharrell as a musician and that's why he appointed him. As a French person, it's sad to see what's happening at LV menswear. All the legacy, the luxury, the style are going to waste (thanks Streetwear)

LV was never about the clothes though. It remains an accessories brand first and foremost. Why would anyone want to buy that overpriced junk is beyond me, but who am I to judge?

 

[Lola701]

I knew this had his fingerprints all over...

Virgil already had his fingerprints all over it…

 

[Page666]

Nicolas creates 3 show collections a year and a prefall.. countless red carpet looks so I think has his hands full.. he is at the studio working everyday.. he does not want to be anything more than the best designer he can be.. the fame/notoriety he gains is due people discovering his work and that is the way he likes it.. he supports and plays a significant part in the LVMH prize jury as he values fashion craft, education… for himself he prioritizes his time developing the collection with his atelier..he knows how to lead an atelier to develop technique and evolve construction creates new silhouettes that have not been tried before and that is why he is a leader/ visionary in his field.

His team could definitely help him do this for the men’s side but lv are more interested in developing an immediate commercial proposition with some gimmick and novelty attached.. Pharrell will slip into Virgil’s seat nicely without rocking the boat but a genuinely new direction I doubt we are in store for.. if you like Pharrell’s style then you will be able to buy into it..

 

[RedSmokeRise]

I knew this had his fingerprints all over...

This is giving so much Kendall Roy energy alskdjfldj.

Everyone said it - fashion's turned into an arm of the entertainment industry in the worst ways.

 

[style_expert]

This is giving so much Kendall Roy energy alskdjfldj.

Best comment of this thread
Alexandre already annoucing a Tiffany & Co collaboration too, how surprising

For all their commercial success and generated wealth, I'm still somewhat puzzled by how little the Arnaults have the finger on the pulse culturally and aesthetically/creatively. Especially given the nature of their business.

As for Pharrell, he has always been such a fashion fan boy (I think genuinely) so I think he would even do the LV job for free, just for the prestige of it.

 

[MulletProof]

This is giving so much Kendall Roy energy alskdjfldj.

just getting the gang together early in his tenure to say………. yo.

 

[Deleted member 7575]

Better him than Kid Super.

We can all agree that this is a disappointing choice but it's not the worst choice.

Pharrell has some kind of experience and I wouldn't mind if he weren't such a dipsh!t

 

[jeanclaude]

Could someone at LVMH make a decent bespoke suit to Alexandre Arnauld, please?

Let´s make a wishlist now:

1. I want Courtney Love at Chanel (a dirty, deranged version of Coco).
2. I want Marilyn Manson at Hermès (shocking bourgeoisie with a little bit of satanic style).
3. I want Rupaul at Dior (haute drag with Galliano-esque theatre).
4. I want 50 cent at Givenchy (because both the hip-hop singer and the brand are totally finished).

 

[LadyJunon]

Nicolas creates 3 show collections a year and a prefall.. countless red carpet looks so I think has his hands full.. he is at the studio working everyday.. he does not want to be anything more than the best designer he can be.. the fame/notoriety he gains is due people discovering his work and that is the way he likes it.. he supports and plays a significant part in the LVMH prize jury as he values fashion craft, education… for himself he prioritizes his time developing the collection with his atelier..he knows how to lead an atelier to develop technique and evolve construction creates new silhouettes that have not been tried before and that is why he is a leader/ visionary in his field.

His team could definitely help him do this for the men’s side but lv are more interested in developing an immediate commercial proposition with some gimmick and novelty attached.. Pharrell will slip into Virgil’s seat nicely without rocking the boat but a genuinely new direction I doubt we are in store for.. if you like Pharrell’s style then you will be able to buy into it..

Ghesquiere's collections for Louis Vuitton may be a sci-fi Balenciaga × Sacai × ÇdG mess (that would simply be solved by a pair of sleek vertiginous stilettos) at times, but he and Silvia Fendi have been the only designers delivering actual genuine high-fashion at LVMH in the last half decade. To add to that, his work ages very well, as I'm only just appreciating his 2017 - 2019 collections now.

Virgil's collections, however, went stale very quickly, which becomes even worse, considering that menswear collections have a longer "cooldown" of 8 to 9 months between show and store, instead of womenswear's 5 to 6. I doubt Pharrell will have the capacity to change that.

 

[Lax89]

Phoebe Philo should have been appointed at LV Menswear. We need her aesthetic to bring back luxury, tailoring, fashion into the brand

 

[Lola701]

I actually don’t expect his work to be similar to Virgil’s. His style seems to be more in tune with workwear and Japanese fashion.
I expect something commercial, maybe less ridiculous (I remember there was a time when he was courting Lanvin by Elbaz and Ossendrijver).
What will be similar with Virgil is probably the hype and cultural aspect.

Phoebe Philo should have been appointed at LV Menswear. We need her aesthetic to bring back luxury, tailoring, fashion into the brand

I don’t think she wants it…

 

[frenchiefashionlover]

pharell will probably deliver trendy pieces and plethora of accessories, will it age well? not sure..... but LV marketing team will work wonders to boost short term sales anyway (87th Kim K collab??). Feeling sad for Martine rose who deserved it.

 

[Deleted member 1957]

They didnt learn from Fenty atelier either.

 

[THD96]

They didnt learn from Fenty atelier either.

But the Fenty project failed from the get-go because the strategy is just confusing.
The clothes were hyped and speak to her fans but the price they ask for was geared toward high contemporary. Her fan may buy a $40 foundation but they won't buy a $400 t-shirt or a $1000 denim jacket. For people who can afford that price, they have far more exciting brands they can choose from, what Fenty offered wasn't something unique or timeless.

With LV it's different because even if you don't like Pharrell or his design, the core products that LV offered are always available in the store.
I think Pharrell's first task is to design an eye-catching accessory.

Even if I can't stand this decision, LV cannot risk being quiet again. Whether it was the buzz created by talents (womenswear) or hype (menswear). So now they always have to find a new way to be in the news. Because being obscure in the fashion world is worse than having a hustler as your creative director.

 

[Deleted member 7575]

I actually don’t expect his work to be similar to Virgil’s. His style seems to be more in tune with workwear and Japanese fashion.
I expect something commercial, maybe less ridiculous (I remember there was a time when he was courting Lanvin by Elbaz and Ossendrijver).
What will be similar with Virgil is probably the hype and cultural aspect.


I don’t think she wants it…

According to my sources she actually did have a discussion with LVMH about doing it.

 

[Deleted member 7575]

But the Fenty project failed from the get-go because the strategy is just confusing.
The clothes were hyped and speak to her fans but the price they ask for was geared toward high contemporary. Her fan may buy a $40 foundation but they won't buy a $400 t-shirt or a $1000 denim jacket. For people who can afford that price, they have far more exciting brands they can choose from, what Fenty offered wasn't something unique or timeless.

With LV it's different because even if you don't like Pharrell or his design, the core products that LV offered are always available in the store.
I think Pharrell's first task is to design an eye-catching accessory.

Even if I can't stand this decision, LV cannot risk being quiet again. Whether it was the buzz created by talents (womenswear) or hype (menswear). So now they always have to find a new way to be in the news. Because being obscure in the fashion world is worse than having a hustler as your creative director.

Excellent analysis.