Musician and Louis Vuitton menswear designer Pharrell Williams unveiled a California-inspired collection at Paris Fashion Week last week, transforming the runway into a beach scene complete with sand, surfboards and a towering artificial waterfall as France endured a record-breaking heatwave.
The Spring/Summer 2027 show drew heavily from American surf and skate culture, with models wearing an eclectic mix of denim, hoodies, colourful jackets and low-cut sneakers reminiscent of classic California skate styles. Some carried surfboards, while others accessorised with miniature Louis Vuitton monogram bags.
Held outdoors at the Cité Universitaire in southern Paris, the show took place as temperatures remained above 30 degrees Celsius late into the evening. Across France, temperatures neared 40 degrees Celsius, forcing several tourist attractions, including the Eiffel Tower, to temporarily close.
Despite the extreme weather, Paris Fashion Week has continued without cancellations. However, some fashion houses, including Dior and Rick Owens, adjusted their schedules and moved shows to the morning to avoid the worst of the heat.
A spokesperson for Louis Vuitton said the company increased water supplies and scheduled additional breaks to improve working conditions for staff and attendees.
Alongside the surf-inspired looks, the collection featured more traditional tailoring, including dark green suits, coats and pullovers with leather detailing.
Paris Men's Fashion Week will be followed by Haute Couture Week beginning on July 6, with fashion industry observers closely watching Pierpaolo Piccioli's debut couture collection for Balenciaga.— Reuters
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