Beyoncé, Kim K and Rihanna among the famous people at Pharrell Williams’ first Louis Vuitton show

Singer-producer turned designer Pharrell Williams made his anticipated debut as Louis Vuitton Menswear designer this week. And his famous friends came in droves to support him.

From Jay-Z, Beyonce, and Jared Leto to Kim Kardashian, the who’s who of the celeb world showed up to cheer Williams’s new collection. This pretty assembly was all decked out in Louis Vuitton wares.

Pharrell Williams showcased his inaugural collection for Louis Vuitton yesterday during the Menswear Paris Fashion Week. If Williams was probably nervous about filling the big shoes left by previous designer Virgil Abloh, he could count on his pals’ support.

A star-studded audience

Amid her Renaissance world tour, Beyonce still attended the fashion extravaganza with her husband, Jay-Z. A heavily pregnant Rihanna and her partner A$ap Rocky made an appearance. Likewise, Naomi Campbell, Lenny Kravitz, Jaden, and Willow Smith all sat in the front row. Never one to miss a major event, Kim Kardashian took her spot next to actor Jared Leto.

Louis Vuitton’s newest ambassador Zendaya arrived with her stylist Law Roach. Fashion model Miranda Kerr and F1 driver Lewis Hamilton also watched the collection’s unveiling.

Pharrel Williams’ designs prominently featured the iconic LV checkerboard Damier print. Models strutted down the runway to live music wearing pearl-encrusted tracksuits as a star-studded audience looked on.

Pharrell Williams succeeds Virgil Abloh

Since the shocking passing of previous head designer Virgil Abloh in late 2021 due to cancer, Louis Vuitton had been looking for a new artistic director to helm its menswear. Many names floated around, including rapper Kanye West, but ultimately the French house went with a less controversial but just as stylish figure: Pharrell Williams. The newest appointment was announced in February 2023.

This isn’t Pharrell’s first rodeo with the famed LV monogram. The producer previously collaborated with the fashion house in 2004 and 2008. Thus, Louis Vuitton CEO Pietro Beccari described William’s appointment as a “welcome back home.”

Despite widespread online support for Williams’ hiring, many were critical of replacing the late Virgil Abloh with a celebrity rather than a younger, classically trained designer. However, the music mogul shrugged off the criticism explaining:

"“I also didn’t go to Juilliard for music, and I’m doing OK,”"