Closing out the first day of Paris Fashion Week Men’s in true Louis Vuitton style, the French house shut down The Centre Pompidou at sunset. Frenzied fans waited outside the revered gallery for a glimpse of Bradley Cooper, Spike Lee, Nigo and the most esteemed front row dwellers of the evening: Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Each guest received a set of monogrammed dice as their invitation, which later matched the venue floor: transformed by Studio Mumbai into a giant game of Snakes & Ladders. Pharrell drew inspiration from the game’s infinite outcomes, tracing its roots back to second-century India, where it was conceived as a mandala. The designer’s vision channelled this cultural heritage into a modern narrative, blending the evolving language of Indian sartorialism with his own innovative energy.

As with each of Pharrell’s LV shows, the soundtrack is just as important as the clothes on the runway. For SS26, the soundscape was entirely composed and produced by the man himself, performed by Voices of Fire and l’Orchestre du Pont Neut, who were positioned among guests in the show space, allowing for a 360 sensory experience. The show also acted as a place for Pharrell to debut some of his latest music collaborations, premiering Get Right, a track featuring Doechii and Tyler, the Creator.

Sartorially, Pharrell transported the spirit of dandyism to sun-soaked climates, unveiling a series of looks in silks, leathers, and fine wools cast in lilac, chestnut, navy, and burnt orange. Classic dandy tartans were reimagined in bouclé and denim, appearing as co-ord sets or styled with contrasting separates, while pinstripes adorned both tailored suiting and dramatic sweeping outerwear. Honouring India’s rich tailoring heritage, shirts and trousers struck a balance between structure and ease, underscoring Louis Vuitton’s technical versatility and craft. Beyond the cityscape, Pharrell turned to India’s northern proximity to the Himalayas, proposing a wardrobe fit for exploration: shell jackets, fleece-blouson hybrids, and hiking boots, rendered in traditional textiles and finished with LV charms, equipping the Vuitton man for any terrain.