Editor’s Note: As the news breaks that Pharrell Williams will be co-chair of the 2025 Met Gala, we have revisted and updated this analysis of his personal style.
Monsieur Louis Vuitton might have been trunkmaker to an empress, but Pharrell Williams—who will made his debut at the French house in 2023—has even closer ties to royalty, having fashioned himself “son of a pharaoh.” In advance of that event Williams posted a picture of himself atop an LV pyramid of wood on Instagram. Was it a 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. As the first collection proved, the creative director takes cues from his own closet. Though he shed 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.
With a vibe that is casual but cool, and an emphasis on fabrics that have patina or soft textures, Williams introduces structure into his wardrobe via military-inspired garb and short suits. He also has a penchant for jewelry and a taste for statement shoes and the occasional topper. 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.