2024 is going to be the year of Western fashion. When Louis Vuitton presented the show for men’s Fall/Winter 2024 collection by Pharell Williams on Jan. 16, 2024, the world knew the trend was set in stone.
The new collection is heavily inspired by the American cowboy, “evoking the iconography of the American Western wardrobe, cowboy-inspired silhouettes and workwear details.” It truly encompasses the story of American history expressing itself in a diverse way. Not only does it bring out the authenticity of the classic Western cowboy, but it also pays respect to the Native cultures overlooked in the represented time period.
The Natives were respected and represented during this show via participation and acknowledgement. According to Vogue, artists from the Dakota and Lakota tribes contributed to the accessories in this collection.
The craft in this collection is outstanding with lace shirts embroidered with lasso-throwing cowboys, denim jackets with yellow desert flowers, embroidered chaps in leather or denim or fringe, turquoise accents on LV emblems, and a new style of pixelated camouflage. The finely crafted details of these pieces stand out right away, making them eye-catching on the runway.
The styling for the show was outstanding, showing a diverse and theatrical approach to modern-day Western wear. Not only modelled by men but women as well, this collection is a game changer for the industry in 2024. There was a very cinematic feel about the Western aspect of this collection, showcasing the cowboy boots in almost every look and incorporating the classic cowboy hat and fringe. There is also a very masculine, but also eccentric and detailed aspect about the way Williams designed the pieces for this collection.
Pointed collars, fur jackets, and extravagant belt buckles were all essential pieces to this collection. Certain looks had bold pops of red in plaid patterns and leather suits, as well as a classic maroon red incorporated in more flat materials to accentuate the shape of the garments.
The American cowboy was brilliantly represented in this collection with its versatility between men’s and women’s wear, as well as representing an accurate storytelling of American history. Giving the perfect balance between the classic and modern cowboy, these pieces are definitely going to be remembered. This collection is something you’d hope to see in an old Western movie, but modernized for today’s fashion has made it one of Williams’ best projects to date.
Most people know Pharrell Williams as the creator of the song “Happy,” but he has clearly put out some of his best creative work with this collection. He has shown us that he has the talent to not only be one of the biggest names in music but hopefully a big name in fashion as well.
Vogue dug deep into this collection, saying, “The four LV trunks wheeled down the runway tonight strongly suggest he’s still en route to somewhere, but for fall ’24, his LV caravanserai moved into what is home territory for Williams: the USA and its heritage of Western wear and workwear.”
This collection is something Louis Vuitton has never produced before, making it a pivotal moment for the house and truly speaking to me about its influence on bringing back the classic cowboy attire.