Decoding Pharrell Williams’s Personal Style in 94 Looks As He Makes His Debut at Louis Vuitton

Monsieur Louis Vuitton might have been trunkmaker to an Empress, but Pharrell Williams—who will make his debut at the French house tomorrow—has even closer ties to royalty, having fashioned himself “Son of a Pharaoh.” On Instagram you’ll see him perched atop an LV pyramid of wood. A sign that he’s thinking big when it comes to his new role? Or the manifestation of the “room without a roof” he sings about in his hit song “Happy?”

Having walked runways, and been a muse, collaborator, and designer, Williams is no stranger to fashion, or to Louis Vuitton. His relationship with the French luxury house dates back about 20 years. “Where it all started” is the caption he attached to a photo from 2004 in which he’s wearing a Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami scarf with a varsity jacket. Beyond that, there’s the 2006 “Say Somethin” video with Mariah Carey, shot in the Paris flagship store; the eyeglass collaboration for the house with Nigo; and the Blason jewelry collection of 2008. It doesn’t seem like Williams’s learning curve will be steep. The question is where will he take it from here?

Maybe there are clues to be found in Williams’s own closet. Though he’s shedding some of his sartorial past through sales on his auction platform Joopiter, the performer has a clear style identity that’s built around denim and messaging, motos and diamonds, and camo and cardigans. The creative director is loyal to the brands he’s (co)founded, Billionaire Boys Club, Icecream, and Humanrace, and to the companies he’s collaborated with, including Adidas. In addition to Louis Vuitton, in the past he’s worn a lot of Chanel and Comme des Garçons.

Williams’s vibe is casual but cool, with an emphasis on fabrics that have patina or soft textures, and he introduces structure via military-inspired garb and short suits. Williams has a penchant for jewelry and a taste for statement shoes, and the occasional hat. Who can forget the Buffalo hat, designed by Vivienne Westwood for World’s End, that he wore to the 2014 Grammy Awards? As with his music, Williams is able to work across genres to come up with something that is signature Pharrell.

Here, an analysis of Williams’s personal style.

Both Sides Now

Williams has a 360-degree view of fashion, having been a model, muse, creator, and customer.