Style tips straight from the Centre Pompidou runway and Pharrell’s imagination.
Pharrell’s back with another Louis Vuitton show, this time on the steps of the Centre Pompidou in Paris. It kicked off Men’s Fashion Week in Paris with a bang.
The collection? One of his most wearable yet. Think less fantasy, more practical. But still playful.
It pulled references from Indian culture and Wes Anderson film The Darjeeling Limited, with a giant snakes-and-ladders runway (yes, really) designed by Studio Mumbai and Bijoy Jain.
The vibe was travel-ready. Shelf-ready. And packed with looks that actually make sense in real life.
Watch the full show here:
Here’s what we’re stealing from it:
1. Tailoring with a Workwear Twist
Pleated trousers. Boxy cargo shirts. Striped polos. It was giving ‘90s dad meets downtown designer vibes. Creating a ‘casual formal’ look, where casual became more formal and formal more casual.
Try this: wide-leg pants with clean lines. Mix smart tailoring with casual layers. Suit jackets with pleated shorts, socks pulled up high paired with loafers. Bonus if it looks like you didn’t try too hard.
2. Puffy and Leather Jackets
Outerwear was a big focus. Think jean jackets in deep brown, puffy bombers in bold green or yellow, with jewel details on the hoods or running in stripes (paired with shorts). There were a lot of leather jackets in white, tan or khaki, some with hoodies, others featuring tiny, playful prints. Cropped denim-style jackets made an appearance too, along with a few classic trench coats for a more tailored touch.
Try this: Mix oversized jackets with collared shirts and shorts, or pair tailored jackets with loose-fitting pleated trousers or even bell bottoms. The more layers the better.
3. Sandals Over Sneakers
Chunky fisherman sandals made multiple appearances. In leather. In colour. In style. It was paired with suits and long-sleeve wear too.
Try this: lose the high-tops for summer. Go for structured sandals with attitude.
4. Go Big on Accessories
We saw LV trunks covered in gems, sunglasses in dark tints and round or aviator shapes and sculptural bags tinted in different ombre colours and the classical LV check patterns in a gradient twist.
Try this: pick one statement piece, like sunglasses, belt or a bag, and let it be the star of your fit.
5. Tropical Prints (No Beach Needed)
Palm leaves, embroidered elephants, bold stripes and colourful graphics popped up across coats, shirts and trousers.
Try this: buy printed button-up shirts in oversized cuts and with small playful prints. Mix with plain bottoms to balance the energy.
6. Luxe Utility
Pharrell nailed functional fashion. Cargo pants in silk. Leather bombers. Smart backpacks with gold trims.
Try this: one elevated “basic”, like a cargo pant in satin or a jacket with real structure.
7. Colours & Patterns
On one side of the palette: burgundy, chocolate brown, and deep green, layered together for a rich, earthy feel. On the other: washed-out pinks, soft beiges, and light blues, perfect for a more relaxed, summer looks.
When it came to patterns, stripes led the way. Blue vertical-striped shirts were everywhere, but we also spotted stripes on shorts and jackets. And of course, LV’s classic check wasn’t left out. The twist this time, it was used more subtly as an outline in select pieces.
What we didn’t see
Pants – Skinny jeans or pants were nowhere to be found. Instead, it was all about loose-fitting trousers, pleats, and even a few bell bottoms pooling over the model’s shoes.
Tops – T-shirts took a back seat. Collared shirts, button-ups and golf shirts dominated the runway. You might get away with layering a tee under a button-up, but that’s about it.
Bonus Style Inspo: The Guests
Uncle Waffles pulled up in a white shirt and loose trousers, layered under a cropped LV vest (approx. R26k, FYI). Check out her Instagram Stories for a behind the scenes look of her experience at the show.
Model Lebo Malope was also there. He’s walked for Gucci, Maxhosa, Jil Sander… so of course he understood the assignment.
In Summary?
The collection blended Indian aesthetics, Parisian tailoring, and global streetwear. And it was cool. It was calm. It was wearable.
To conclude today’s lesson? Pharrell’s style isn’t just about following all the right fashion rules kids, it’s about finding the rhythm.
