Why Pharrell Williams Was Made to Be Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Creative Director

Pharrell Williams recently stepped into a new role—fashionably, of course. Louis Vuitton announced in February of last year that the Happy singer was the new Men’s Creative Director of the French fashion house giant. Pharrell’s position was held by Off-White creator Virgil Abloh from 2018 until his death from cancer in 2021.

The 51-year-old Grammy-winning artist has always graced every room with his stylishness, stunned on the cover of every fashion magazine, and looked fabulous whenever he strutted down a catwalk. Now, he’s using all of his fashion expertise to help transform one of the biggest fashion brands in the world to reflect his flavor. Williams debuted his first presentation as Louis Vuitton’s Creative Director for Menswear in 2023 with his chic Spring/Summer 2024 collection.

Fashion is truly the unique hip-hop producer’s forte. His experimental, avant-garde approach to clothes allows him to rock various looks, spanning from preppy to skater boy. Hence his nickname, Skateboard P. Williams’ luxury leathers, stellar sneakers, and funky accessories are some of the main reasons he is such a fashionisto. It’s no secret that the Neptunes’ founding member has contributed much to the fashion world throughout the 20-plus years he’s been on the world stage. 

Williams transformed fashion when he co-founded the streetwear brand Billionaire Boys Club and its sublabel Ice Cream with Japanese fashion designer NIGO in the early 2000s—the first of many collaborations. Their brand showcased styles that incorporated Japanese culture with hints of skater-boy vibes. Williams’ Billionaire’s Boys Club added a spin to the early 2000s fashion scene, which was full of big chains, oversized jeans, graphic tees, and jackets. By 2004, Billionaire Boys Club was already a household name in hip-hop culture.

The legend’s personal style has always shined through his work with fashion brands, and because of that, his involvement has always been evident. Louis Vuitton and Williams’ first collaboration dates back 20 years to when the fashion house partnered with the entertainer and NIGO in 2004 for the Louis Vuitton sunglasses line Millionaire.

During this time, the Billionaire Boys Club era continued to reign even when BAPES (A Bathing Ape) began picking up steam on the scene. Not only did Williams support NIGO’s BAPES brand, which the designer launched in Japan in 1993, but he was also instrumental in popularizing the bold shoes in America.

With the long-standing relationship with his Billionaire Boys Club co-founder NIGO, who also founded BAPES, a collab was not far behind. In 2006, the official collaboration with Pharrell Williams x BAPE came, further transforming the hip-hop fashion landscape. Two years later, in 2008, Williams collaborated with Louis Vuitton again for the brand’s flashy Blason jewelry collection.

Where there is luxury, there’s Pha-real. In the early 2010s, Williams’ self-expression became more bold. Thus, the rapper’s hat era. Williams’ 2014 Grammy appearance became one of his most memorable looks.

Styled with a red jacket, black skinny jeans, and brown combat boots, the Frontin singer made the otherwise simple outfit pop with a Vivienne Westwood “Mountain” hat. If this doesn’t say, “My style is my style,” I’m not sure what does. If Williams does nothing else, he brings his style to the mainstream. His style during the 2010s screamed, “For everybody.” Williams played with the lines of gender-categorized clothing and helped make it stick. Not to mention, later in the 2010s, Pharrell Williams was truly in his luxury bag, quite literally. In 2017, he became the first man ever to model in a handbag campaign ad for the high-end fashion brand Chanel.

Fashion does something different for everyone, but one thing for sure is that Pharrell’s style never lacked individuality. His fashion choices are free of hesitation, granting him the privilege of being first in many facets of fashion. The famous producer’s creative approach to his style has given him the credibility to innovate. Williams earned his current position as the Men’s Creative Director at Louis Vuitton through how he’s revolutionized fashion through his own sidequests and personal love for dressing up. 

After the success of the fashion icon’s third runway show in January, there’s much anticipation about what he’ll do next. Pay attention to his fashion choices; they may give more information than we think.