Pharrell Williams dominated Paris Fashion Week in style, and celebrities like Beyonce, Jay-Z, and Rihanna watched.
On Tuesday night, the former Get Lucky musician and current Louis Vuitton men's creative director made his debut.
He transformed the city's oldest bridge, Pont Neuf, into a gospel-infused disco with a star-studded crowd and gold carpeting.
It was his first performance since the passing of his predecessor, Virgil Abloh, a former collaborator of Kanye West who was widely regarded as a pioneer in the field.
In essence, the event, which was also attended by NBA star Lebron James, actress Zendaya, reality star Kim Kardashian, and supermodel Naomi Campbell, was as much of a gig, spectacle, and party as it was a fashion show.
At the conclusion of the evening, Jay-Z performed on the bridge, featuring a happy appearance from Pharrell.
Meanwhile, Rihanna became popular after donning an outfit with Pharrell's "damoflage print," which revealed her growing baby bump, for the upcoming collection.
Williams, 50, stated to the AFP news agency prior to the performance that he was aware of the background to the current dominance of black culture.
He said, "I think these corporations are slowly, but surely, waking up to the fact that we have flavor and that we have something really interesting to offer.
"It has been historically and factually whitewashed, but even though that has been difficult for us historically, it has made it easier when it comes to taste because we bring such a striking contrast. ".
It's striking, he continued, to see LeBron James wearing something, hear Jay-Z's lyrics, and hear Beyonce's energy and voice. ".
NERD's singer, rapper, and producer also paid tribute to Abloh, who passed away from cancer in 2021 at the age of 41. Williams admitted that she had worked with him on a few projects. "His energy is very much still with us spiritually. ".
