Pharrell opens Vuitton’s monogram anniversary year with cinematic menswear show

Pharrell Williams unveiled Louis Vuitton’s Fall-Winter 2026 men’s collection in Paris, launching the iconic fashion house’s year-long celebration of its monogram’s 130th anniversary. The event, held at the Louis Vuitton Foundation, transformed the venue into an elaborate spectacle combining fashion presentation with theatrical staging.

The innovative runway setup featured a central glass-walled apartment where models moved through the space like actors crossing a film set, creating a narrative flow to the presentation. Guests encircled this minimalist structure on a grassy runway, blurring the line between traditional fashion show and immersive installation.

Star power permeated the event, with front-row luminaries including musicians SZA, Usher, and Future alongside global sensation Jackson Wang. Adding to the celebrity crossover trend, BamBam of Korean boy band GOT7 made his runway debut, underscoring the fashion industry’s continuing embrace of K-pop influence and global entertainment figures.

The presentation’s atmospheric quality was significantly enhanced by live musical accompaniment, with a gospel choir and full orchestra performing from the balconies. This dramatic soundtrack elevated the experience beyond a typical runway show, creating an emotional ambience that complemented the collection’s aesthetic direction.

Williams’ designs maintained his established vision for the French luxury brand while honoring the house’s travel heritage. The collection presented a distinctive 1970s-influenced aesthetic infused with contemporary utility elements. A restrained autumnal color palette of grays, browns, black, denim, and cream was strategically interrupted by vibrant pops of bubblegum pink, baby blue, and emerald green, preventing the collection from feeling overly conservative.

“This collection beautifully balances Louis Vuitton’s heritage with Williams’ forward-thinking design approach,” noted fashion critic Marie Dumont, who attended the show. “The anniversary year is clearly influencing the strong presence of monogram elements, but they’ve been reimagined in ways that feel fresh rather than repetitive.”

Silhouettes favored longer, looser lines with a noticeable A-line sweep to trousers, creating a fluid movement as models traversed the space. Williams continued his signature high-low styling approach, frequently pairing tailored suits with utilitarian parka coats. The detailed craftsmanship revealed itself on closer inspection – shirts with shimmering surfaces, decorative bows, and jabot-style collars that referenced 1970s aesthetics without veering into costume territory.

The collection’s utility theme manifested through hardware elements including ties, toggles, belts, and zippers, alongside faux-fur collars that served both functional and decorative purposes. Patent Oxford shoes provided a glossy counterpoint to the softer silhouettes above.

One standout piece, clearly positioned as the anniversary celebration’s centerpiece, was a monogrammed puffer jacket that reimagined the brand’s signature pattern for contemporary luxury streetwear. Williams also introduced a subtly “undone” finish to certain pieces, with intentionally lived-in wrinkled tops that added an approachable dimension to the luxury presentation.

The collection offered diverse fits beyond the industry’s current trend toward slimmer silhouettes, presenting a range that included skin-tight knits, precisely tailored suits, and oversized shorts, reflecting the brand’s inclusive approach to contemporary menswear.

In a theatrical flourish that encapsulated Louis Vuitton’s essence, the show included an Art Nouveau travel case crafted from stained glass, wheeled through on a trolley. This elaborately beautiful yet functionally impractical piece served as a knowing wink to the brand’s origins in luxury travel goods and its contemporary positioning as a purveyor of aspirational lifestyle.

This opening celebration sets an ambitious tone for Louis Vuitton’s monogram anniversary year, which will likely see further creative interpretations of the iconic pattern across the brand’s collections and marketing initiatives throughout 2026. As the luxury sector navigates changing consumer preferences, this heritage celebration allows the brand to simultaneously honor its past while demonstrating its continued relevance in the fashion landscape.