Abdu Ndiaye in Louis Vuitton Mens by Carlos Teixeira for GQ Brasil September 2024
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America’s Black Cowboys, As Tributed by Pharrell Williams for Louis Vuitton Fall-Winter 2024 Men’s Collection: Pt 1 of a French-American Cowboys Story
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Historians estimate that in the latter half of the nineteenth century, one in four American cowboys was black. Anne of Carversville seriously doubts that this reality is taught in the history classes of American schools. Additionally, an estimated 12% of cowboys were Mexican.
Thanks to the January 18th Louis Vuitton Fall-Winter 2024 Men’s Collection show at the Jardin d’Acclimatation in Paris, this historical lens of exploration is opened wide. AOC is both incredulous and excited to tell this story. But first — a look at the highly-praised, Louis Vuitton Men Creative Director Pharrell Williams Fall-Winter 2024 show.
Black Cowboys and Slavery
The history of black cowboys in America is deeply intertwined with the legacy of slavery and the Civil War. Prior to Emancipation, many enslaved African Americans were forced into labor on plantations, including working with cattle. Other African Americans went west to California as slaves of gold miners and to Utah as slaves of Mormons.
Texas became the largest home to black cowboys.
Read MoreLouis Vuitton Men SS 2024 by Pharrell Williams Hong Kong Pop-Up Joins Upcoming 50 Locations
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Chinese New Year arrives mid-February, resulting in the Louis Vuitton Men Pop-Up in Hong Kong being open only until February 15. Might we see an extension later in spring?
Read MoreLouis Vuitton SS-2024 Lookbook Lensed by Amit Israeli and Gabriel Moses
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The Louis Vuitton machine is in high gear for the release of the first Pharrell Williams Louis Vuitton Men collection and these new lookbook images lensed by Amit Israeli [IG] and AOC tag and also Gabriel Moses [IG]
Models include Awwal Adeoti, Dara Gueye, Ridzman Zidaine, Teo Abihdana and Thatcher Thornton styled by Matthew Henson. / Hair by Christian Eberhard; makeup by Christine Corbel
Creative Direction for the shoot is credited to Pharrell Williams [IG] and Lina Kutsovskaya [IG].
Read MoreLouis Vuitton Winter 2023 Ski Collection Delivers Big Style Statement
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Five models Ahmadou Gueye, Angelina Kendall, Dana Smith, Indiana Van’t Slot and Victoria Fawole convey just how important the 2023 Campaign ski campaign is to Louis Vuitton.
Marie-Amélie Sauvé styles the quintet for the winter 2023.24 campaign, with art direction by Veronica Ditting. Ethan James Green [IG]. / Hair by Damien Boissinot; makeup by Christelle Cocquet
Read MoreLouis Vuitton Spreads a Contagious, Human Joy for the 2023-24 Holidays
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Louis Vuitton delivers smile-worthy holiday cheer in its first episode of a multi-segmented campaign lensed by Oliver Hadlee Pearch [IG] with video by Lope Serrano.
The Maison’s Mascot Vivienne and her friend Teddy arrive to explore all the Maison’s creations. As regulars, they might become treasured ornaments as the years go by — and we are eager to keep track of them.
These darling little creatures pop up everywhere in a distinct statement that whimsy is part of the holiday season and we are quietly encouraged to get “out of ourselves” and into the world of humanity.
Read MoreLouis Vuitton Taps Pharrell Williams As First Guest of Podcast 'Louis Vuitton Extended' Out Now
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Louis Vuitton is launching a podcast with popular French fashion journalist, documentary maker and YouTuber Loïc Prigent. Called ‘Louis Vuitton Extended’, the podcast will dive deeper into the scenes of what’s happening behind the scenes at one of the world’s premier luxury houses. That Prigent-guided conversation includes the house’s cultural codes, values and activism.
In the case of Louis Vuitton Men’s creative director Pharrell Williams, the dialogue will focus on the June 20, 2023 show and all the decisions made around its structure and content.
Read MoreLouis Vuitton Mens FW 2023 Campaign Images | White Americans in Paris 1923
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Louis Vuitton Men’s has released images from the FW 2023 collection, co-created by Colm Dillane [IG], aka Kid Super, and the Louis Vuitton Men’s studio design team.
Marq Rise styled the shoot with images by Paul Kooiker [IG].
Preparing to write these words, I scrolled my Apple News for any event connected to this post.
The Universe Dials In
You may or may not have read my recent post about American jazz musicians seeking refuge in the French Riviera — and not only to perform.
Apple News just shared one of those “on this day 100 years ago” articles from yesterday — as if it fell into this post. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued this statement on August 2, 1923:
“Some foreign tourists, forgetting that they are our guests and that they, therefore, owe respect to our customs and our laws, have lately, on several occasions, violently shown their disapproval when they have found men of colour from French colonies sitting near them in public places. They have even gone so far as to demand their expulsion in insulting terms. If similar incidents recur measures of redress will be taken.”
The Racists in Paris Were White American Tourists
The foreign tourists not respecting French customs and laws were Americans. Follow the link at top of post to the entire story of the ugly [and presumably rich] Americans in Paris.
Read MoreDan Beleiu Shoots Dara Gueye, Hedi Ben Tekaya and Jay Jang for Louis Vuitton Men Pre-Fall
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Models Dara Gueye, Hedi Ben Tekaya and Jay Jang are styled by Marq Rise in select pieces from the Louis Vuitton Men Pre Fall 2024 collection.
Photographer Dan Beleiu [IG] is behind the lens with set design by Sophear Van Froment and art direction by Lucie Matussiere. / Hair by Christian Eberhard; makeup by Adrien Pinault
Read MoreRihanna Fronts New Louis Vuitton Speedy Bag Campaign in Canal Street Colors
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The Louis Vuitton Speedy bag is an iconic fashion statement that has withstood the test of time. Introduced in the 1930s, this elegant and practical handbag has become a symbol of luxury, sophistication, and timeless style.
Rihanna Fronts New LV Speedy Bag Campaign
In June 2023, fashion world adds Rihanna to the list of famous women who love a Louis Vuitton Speedy bag. Rihanna is an insider at LVMH, besides being a good friend of Pharrell Williams, the new creative director of Louis Vuitton Men who had a blowout opening night in Paris last week.
Shot by Japanese photographer Keizō Kitajima and American artist Martine Syms shot the campaign images in which, Rihanna hustles around the city with her Speedys, a modern woman with a to-go coffee in hand and her pregnant belly bared.
To mimic the candy-colored designer dupes he used to find on Canal Street sidewalks, Pharrell employed a novel silkscreen monogramming process to induce “a blurry, artisanal and almost hand-painted effect” on the new Louis Vuitton Speedy bag colors — which also coincide with the Olympic rings colors.
After a raid on the Paris 2024 Olympics offices before Pharrell’s debut, the hoped for LVMH sponsorship remains unannounced.
Read MoreLouis Vuitton Mens Hip Elegance: A Smart Critic Asks "Can Good Taste Change the World?"
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Power shifts are happening and not everybody has gotten the message. Clearly, significant numbers of people are not pleased with these new dynamics that are now obvious after the Pharrell Williams Louis Vuitton Men’s show on April 20.
That’s a shame, because the minute models hit the most spectacular runway in Paris — on the Pont Neuf overlooking the Seine — my immediate response was about the elegant tailoring and then the accessories.
The ‘Liberty’ luggage truck also told me that EVERY detail was in order around this epic Pharrell Williams blast-off.
It was only on Monday Juneteenth, that I learned about the Statue of Liberty as a gift to America from France, honoring the official end of slavery in America.
This new day Paris Cafe Society is just getting started, but it is real.
Read MoreNew Louis Vuitton Ambassador J-Hope Drops Keepall Bag Campaign 2023
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BTS's J-Hope stars in his first campaign as a solo Louis Vuitton ambassador, rocking his dance moves in the new LV Keepall bag campaign. Vuitton, in their Keepall campaign announcement, described BTS as "21st-century pop icons," while emphasizing J-Hope's unique appeal.
Back in 1930, as international travel began to flourish, the need for a spacious, durable travel companion became apparent. In response to this demand, Louis Vuitton introduced the Keepall, a groundbreaking design that revolutionized the way people carried their belongings.
Members of 1930s cafe society constantly interacted with artists of all mediums, and J-Hope’s Louis Vuitton Keepall campaign projects a subdued but very hip elegance.
Let’s see how this next chapter with Pharrell Williams and Pietro Beccari, Louis Vuitton’s new Chairman and CEO evolves. It appears that the original or siblings of the original Keepall are about to bust out in an array of Olympic rings colors. ~ Anne
Read MorePharrell Taps Rihanna for LV Mens | LVMH Close to Securing Major 2024 Olympics Deal
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The show marking Pharrell Williams' first collection for Louis Vuitton Mens, will take place in the City of Lights on June 20, 2023, at 8:30 p.m. Louis Vuitton execs used their considerable influence to change Pharrell’s debut date
On the subject of those delicious bag colors, read on about LVMH sponsoring the 2024 Olympics in Paris, promoting Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and LVMH spirits.
In fact, it wouldn’t surprise AOC to see LVMH promoting their jointly-owned [50-50] with Jay-Z, Armand de Brignac champagne brand at the Olympics.
That would be one hell of a party! Alas, it won’t be a public event, but Mory Sacko will be in the kitchen. LVMH really wants to step out in the Olympics and they could pull this off in a big way.
Read MoreLouis Vuitton Men Taigarama Bags Summer 2023 Campaign Lensed by Tom Johnson
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Louis Vuitton Men releases the Taigarama Summer 2023 Campaign with models Akito Mizutani, Choi Mabior, Limamu Mbaye and Lucas El Bali styled by Pau Avia.
Tom Johnson [IG] photographs the campaign, with art direction by Lucie Matussiere./ Hair by Christian Eberhard; makeup by Christine Corbel
Read MoreWhat If the Louis Vuitton Men's 'Crochet Leather Overshirt' Came With Its Own DNA Test?
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Technically-speaking, when Virgil Abloh’s parents came from Ghana and settled in Rockford, Ill. which is close to Chicago, he was conceived in what once was New France in North America.
The design of the Louis Vuitton ‘Crochet Leather Overshirt’ is hardly workwear in the style of the American West . . . or even coal miners in Appalachia. Those pretty crochet Louis Vuitton flowers and emblems would get real dusty damn fast.
To purchase the jacket will cost you $37,000 and it’s made to order, so you must contact your local LV to pursue the conversation.
OMG! What LV could do under Pharrell is to create the patches custom — with plenty of LVs, of course. But after purchasing a DNA test as part of the jacket, the wearer could learn his/her roots. Then a select number of patches could honor those roots.
Read MoreDigging Deeper Into Pharrell Williams' Real Mission at Louis Vuitton Mens
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A fashion industry earthquake happened this week with the appointment of Pharrell Williams as Creative Director at Louis Vuitton Men’s, replacing his close friend Virgil Abloh who passsed in November 2021. The hip hop mogul, business entrepreneur, social activist with a high-volume voice on racial and gender-justice has drawn major criticism from fashion writers who argue that Pharrell’s lack of a formal design education indicates that all that matters to LVMH is his celebrity status.
I don’t mean to sound sassy, but knowing that Louis Vuitton doubled its volume from $10 billion to $20 billion in the last four years suggests that this executive team knows what it’s doing. I’m a maverick to the core and rarely silent on important topics.
But I do show respect to professionals who have just accomplished unimaginable results in business, results that defy logic. Before accusing them of being money-hungry Las Vegas strippers ready to trash the most valuable brand in the luxury world for a few bucks, I dig deeper.
Read MoreThe Beautiful Pharrell Williams has been Named Louis Vuitton Men’s Creative Director
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I never praise myself, but I KNEW Pharrell was the perfect human for Louis Vuitton Mens and that LV would see it that way, too.
I’ve asked Louis Vuitton Mens [and Dior — too — both men and women] and Etro this morning to pick up the mantle that few businesses can lead. LVMH is well aware of what I am saying. And they are listening.
This video about Pharrell’s ‘Black Ambition’ organization is only about two years old. Clearly Virgil knew how ill he was, but we see here Virgil and Pharrell really speaking to issues of black success. The convo goes deep into their values as humans.
Felecia Hatcher is very succesful in her own right and she serves as CEO of ‘Black Ambition’.
Read MoreTyler Mitchell Captures Louis Vuitton Spring 2023 Mens Campaign, Shot in Almeria, Spain
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Photographer Tyler Mitchell [IG] was over the moon, shooting “a gang of boys in the Spanish desert” near Almería, Spain. The minute I saw Mitchell’s name I understood how impacted he was by the shoot. To his credit, Tyler said as much: “I'm extremely thankful for the opportunity. Photography has brought me many places but this is my first main campaign for a heritage house of such stature. Those who know me know how much this means.”
In an excellent interview Mitchell has with FRIEZE, the photographer explains how his new work is being influenced by his growing understanding of historical paintings.
AOC understands the constant mention of boyhood games and imaginations in the evolving Louis Vuitton Menswear discussion, but to me it’s just as important that cool men are relating to amusing and creative elements in their clothes. Creativity is known to be a uniting force among diverse peoples.
Virgil Abloh understood that reality. Clearly Louis Vuitton understands it in their deeply personal embrace of Virgil’s talents — then and now. And Tyler Mitchell is a similarly soft-spoken, creative personality that fits beautifully into the Louis Vuitton hive.
Read MoreLouis Vuitton FW 2023 Menswear with Colm Dillane Is Praise-Worthy
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I personally went back over Virgil’s older shows and the influence of the menswear design studio is strong in the Fall 2023 collection. This is not about radical change.
AOC remains a believer that Beccari and Arnault will take the menswear design group for an innovative spin — sort of a design laboratory that focuses on the future studio workplace.
But to hear in March that Colm Dillane gets his LV men’s position would not surprise us. AOC believes strongly that elegance is in the wind. I did keep asking myself “Would Jay-Z wear these clothes? Would the NBA players wear these clothes because the LV Men’s NBA clothes are fabulous.
We are positive that LVMH will make some kind of investment in Dillane. His whole story and his talent are pretty irresistable.
Read MoreBrooklyn KidSuper Founder Colm Dillane Co-Creates Louis Vuitton AW 2023 Menswear
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