Pharrell Williams’ First Louis Vuitton Collection Debuts in L.A. at West Hollywood Pop-Up
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Pharrell Williams’ vibrant debut collection for Louis Vuitton has officially touched down in California at the French luxury label’s new men’s pop-up shop in West Hollywood. Open to the public from Jan. 4 through mid-March and housed off Melrose Avenue across from Cecconi’s restaurant, the temporary boutique re-creates Paris’ oldest bridge, the Pont Neuf, where Louis Vuitton’s newly minted men’s creative director, and Virgil Abloh’s successor, staged his Spring Summer 2024 show last June.
While a bullet-proof vest-clad security guard stands out front — which feels quite L.A. these days — once inside, visitors are whisked away to France courtesy of Louis Vuitton’s spare-no-expense attention to detail. The space’s golden interior decor features street lamps and architectural molding that mimic Paris’s iconic bridge as well as a Damier-patterned floor. However, the boutique’s pièce de résistance is its speakeasy-inspired Speedy room, which is hidden behind a giant bookshelf covered in tour guide books for Berlin, Beijing, Shanghai and Bangkok.
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The secret space houses six bright Speedy bags — in green, yellow, red, blue — which are available in leather for the first time since their original release in 1930.
“We don’t have the million dollar one here,” someone from the house acknowledged, referencing the yellow crocodile leather duffle bag that made headlines as Williams carried it throughout Paris Fashion Week.
“Bummer,” laughed a well-dressed guest, as she videoed the six on display.
“It’s upon request,” the rep concluded. That bag does, indeed, have a million dollar price tag and is available on a made-to-order basis in five colorways.
The pop-up does showcase all other Louis Vuitton menswear offerings including accessories, jewelry, leather goods, luggage, trunks, ready-to-wear and shoes from Williams’ Spring Summer 2024 collection, with pieces like Horizon luggage, Keepall travel bags and Trail backpacks, as well as shoes including the LV Trainer, the Palace Slipper and the Footprint Low Boot.
Standout items on display include designs emblazoned with Damoflage, Williams’ signature digitized Damier and Monogram motif; a Speedy 40 Black Tie, which is embroidered with crystals and pearls; as well as unique pieces created in collaboration with Los Angeles artist Henry Taylor.
Taylor has worked with Louis Vuitton previously on projects, but Williams’ Spring Summer 2024 collection marks the first time the artist’s portraits have been embroidered on ready-to-wear items like a denim artist’s smock-inspired jacket. Williams’ LVERS logo — a nod to his home state of Virginia’s slogan — also appears throughout the space on a slew of merchandise including key chains.
Since the pop-up boutique is the only West Coast Louis Vuitton location exclusively devoted to its men’s Spring Summer 2024 collection, a second merchandise drop will take place on Feb. 8. Additionally, a Soho-based pop-up store — mirroring the L.A. location — has just opened in New York.
Jessica Chastain’s and Julia Roberts’ longtime stylist Elizabeth Stewart, presumably between award season fittings, was among those who stopped by a daytime press preview for LV’s West Hollywood boutique on Wednesday.
She briefly let loose while walking around the space: “I’ve got my board,” Stewart joked, as she carried a LVERS-emblazoned skateboard with Williams’ signature pixelated camouflage on the bottom. “I’ll check you later,” she joked in a Valley-kid voice, carrying it toward the door, as her assistant captured the moment for social media.
Later that night, Louis Vuitton celebrated the ephemeral space with a cocktail party that was attended by Barry Keoghan, Steven Yeun, Deacon Phillippe, Jaden Smith and stylist Warren Alfie Baker.
The space kicks off a global rollout for Louis Vuitton with additional activations planned over the next three months in more than 50 Louis Vuitton boutiques, temporary spaces and department stores. The announcement also coincides with the release of their new Spring Summer 2024 campaign featuring LeBron James carrying the brand’s Speedy P9 in various colorways.
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