Pharrell opened fashion week with an artificial waterfall in 40-degree heat
Models walked over sand carrying surfboards while the audience sweated: it was still above 30°C in Paris at 9pm. The Eiffel Tower closed that day.
Pharrell Williams made a giant artificial waterfall the backdrop of his 2027 spring-summer collection for Louis Vuitton, opening Paris Fashion Week just as a record-breaking heatwave paralysed large parts of France.
On the runway: an eclectic mix of denim, hoodies and flashy jackets, with models walking over sand, some carrying surfboards, others sporting tiny monogram bags.
The collection leaned heavily into American surf and skate culture. Many looks featured low-cut sneakers whose silhouette, white rubber soles and laces resembled those of Californian lifestyle brand Vans.
Watchers and staff were seen gasping and sweating: the show was held outdoors at the Cité Universitaire, the vast student housing complex in southern Paris, and temperatures remained well above 30°C around 9pm.
That day much of western and central France, including Paris, was around 40°C, forcing tourist sites like the Eiffel Tower to close. No shows were cancelled, but some labels, including Dior and Rick Owens, moved to morning slots. A Louis Vuitton spokesperson said the brand had ramped up water supplies and increased breaks to improve working conditions.
Among the more classic pieces were pullovers with leather patches and dark green suits and coats.
Paris men’s fashion week is followed by haute couture week from July 6, with Pierpaolo Piccioli’s first couture show for Balenciaga among the most anticipated events.