Pharrell opened fashion week with an artificial waterfall in 40-degree heat
Models walked on sand carrying surfboards while the audience fanned itself and sweated: at nine in the evening it was still above 30°C in Paris. The Eiffel Tower closed that day.
Pharrell Williams used a giant artificial waterfall as the backdrop for Louis Vuitton’s spring/summer 2027 collection, opening Paris Fashion Week at exactly the moment record heat was paralysing much of France.
On the runway, an eclectic mix of denim, hoodies and bold jackets; models walked across sand, some carrying surfboards, others tiny monogram bags.
The collection leans heavily on American surf and skate culture. Many looks featured low-top trainers whose silhouette, white rubber sole and lacing plainly recall California’s Vans.
Audience and staff visibly suffered: the show was staged in the open air at the Cité Universitaire, the vast student complex in southern Paris, and at around nine in the evening the temperature was still well above 30°C.
That day most of western and central France, the capital included, was living at 40°C, and tourist sites such as the Eiffel Tower were closing. The shows were not cancelled, but several labels, including Dior and Rick Owens, moved their slots to the morning. Louis Vuitton, according to a brand spokesperson, increased water supplies and added breaks to improve working conditions on site.
Among the more classic pieces in the collection were pullovers with leather panels, dark green suits and coats.
After the men’s week, Paris moves on to haute couture from 6 July. One of the most anticipated events there is Pierpaolo Piccioli’s first couture show for Balenciaga.