Louis Vuitton Is Soul of LVMH 'Strategic Layering' Paradigm-Busting F1 Deal

Louis Vuitton Is Soul of LVMH 'Strategic Layering' Paradigm-Busting F1 Deal

Louis Vuitton Is Soul of LVMH 'Strategic Layering' Paradigm-Busting F1 Deal

Formula 1 [FI] has moved into the fast lane, striking new business alliances with Apple and LVMH starring Louis Vuitton in 2025.

Today we focus on LV and F1, with visuals from the new Formula 1 and the Apple Original Films' highly-anticipated movie movie in F1. The movie starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris opens June 27.

Fresh off winning the prestigious 2025 Cannes Lions Grand Prix for their partnership with the Paris 2025 Olympic Games, this new F1 relationship announced in late 2024 represents what is called the LVMH “strategic narrative layering” approach across its maisons.

The fastest growing segment of F1 fandom is young women. From AOC’s perspective, layering bottles of Moët & Chandon into the F1 celebration experience, tying it directly to the Louis Vuitton brand experience is simply brilliant.

But hey — what do I understand understand about business in a purely transactional Wall Street world universe? ~ Anne

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Pharrell Williams Carries the Olympic Torch Onwards to UNESCO for Louis Vuitton Men

Pharrell Williams Carries the Olympic Torch Onwards to UNESCO for Louis Vuitton Men

Pharrell Williams Carries the Olympic Torch Onwards to UNESCO for Louis Vuitton Men

The Louis Vuitton Men Spring 2025 campaign, lensed by Stef Mitchell with Gabriel Moses [IG] as photographer and director, The visual effects continue the major themes Louis Vuitton Men creative director Pharrell Williams introduced at his fashion show held in Paris at UNESCO House.

This season Vuitton Men teamed up with Air Afrique in Paris, a consultancy inspired by those glorious years when all things seemed possible, and a multicultural youth quake took hold around the world.

After his recent role representing Louis Vuitton and his adopted country of France at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Williams was feeling the love of his own humanrace [Pharrell’s skincare brand] family.

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Louis Vuitton Taps Skateboarder Tyshawn Jones As Friend of the House

Louis Vuitton Taps Skateboarder Tyshawn Jones As Friend of the House

Louis Vuitton Taps Skateboarder Tyshawn Jones As Friend of the House

Luxury house Louis Vuitton doesn’t need to use three banned in America initials i-e-d when reinforcing the 21st century DNA of the world’s largest luxury brand.

There’s no luxury house that AOC watches more closely than Louis Vuitton in understanding their ‘take’ on where we’re heading culturally. I should clarify that it’s Louis Vuitton Men — more than women’s — that clarifies the brand’s vision in the public sphere.

AOC didn’t understand just how tight former Christian Dior Men’s creative director Kim Jones was with Virgil Abloh, when Jones was at the helm of Louis Vuitton Men’s from 2011-2018 and passed the baton to Abloh as his mentor.

With Pharrell Williams succeeding Abloh [RIP] — we’re looking at a continuous cultural vision for LV that’s about 15 years old across three creative directors who formed their own modern-day rat pack.

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Abdu Ndiaye in Louis Vuitton Mens by Carlos Teixeira for GQ Brasil September 2024

Abdu Ndiaye in Louis Vuitton Mens by Carlos Teixeira for GQ Brasil September 2024

Photographer Carlos Teixeira [IG] is “very happy” with his new Louis Vuitton Men's story for GQ Brasil’s September 2024 issue. / Beauty by Junior Queiros and Loriane Leger

Styled by Lucio Fonseca, Pharrell’s fashion tribute to the American West is very much at home on model Abdou Ndiaye, shot in a nature-lovers park in Paris.

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America’s Black Cowboys, As Tributed by Pharrell Williams for Louis Vuitton Fall-Winter 2024 Men’s Collection: Pt 1 of a French-American Cowboys Story

America’s Black Cowboys, As Tributed by Pharrell Williams for Louis Vuitton Fall-Winter 2024 Men’s Collection: Pt 1 of a French-American Cowboys Story

America’s Black Cowboys, As Tributed by Pharrell Williams for Louis Vuitton Fall-Winter 2024 Men’s Collection: Pt 1 of an American-French Cowboys Story

Historians estimate that in the latter half of the nineteenth century, one in four American cowboys was black. Anne of Carversville seriously doubts that this reality is taught in the history classes of American schools. Additionally, an estimated 12% of cowboys were Mexican.

Thanks to the January 18th Louis Vuitton Fall-Winter 2024 Men’s Collection show at the Jardin d’Acclimatation in Paris, this historical lens of exploration is opened wide. AOC is both incredulous and excited to tell this story. But first — a look at the highly-praised, Louis Vuitton Men Creative Director Pharrell Williams Fall-Winter 2024 show.

Black Cowboys and Slavery

The history of black cowboys in America is deeply intertwined with the legacy of slavery and the Civil War. Prior to Emancipation, many enslaved African Americans were forced into labor on plantations, including working with cattle. Other African Americans went west to California as slaves of gold miners and to Utah as slaves of Mormons.

Texas became the largest home to black cowboys.

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Louis Vuitton SS-2024 Lookbook Lensed by Amit Israeli and Gabriel Moses

Louis Vuitton SS-2024 Lookbook Lensed by Amit Israeli and Gabriel Moses

The Louis Vuitton machine is in high gear for the release of the first Pharrell Williams Louis Vuitton Men collection and these new lookbook images lensed by Amit Israeli [IG] and AOC tag and also Gabriel Moses [IG]

Models include Awwal Adeoti, Dara Gueye, Ridzman Zidaine, Teo Abihdana and Thatcher Thornton styled by Matthew Henson. / Hair by Christian Eberhard; makeup by Christine Corbel

Creative Direction for the shoot is credited to Pharrell Williams [IG] and Lina Kutsovskaya [IG].

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Louis Vuitton Winter 2023 Ski Collection Delivers Big Style Statement

Louis Vuitton Winter 2023 Ski Collection Delivers Big Style Statement

Five models Ahmadou Gueye, Angelina Kendall, Dana Smith, Indiana Van’t Slot and Victoria Fawole convey just how important the 2023 Campaign ski campaign is to Louis Vuitton.

Marie-Amélie Sauvé styles the quintet for the winter 2023.24 campaign, with art direction by Veronica Ditting. Ethan James Green [IG]. / Hair by Damien Boissinot; makeup by Christelle Cocquet

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Louis Vuitton Spreads a Contagious, Human Joy for the 2023-24 Holidays

Louis Vuitton Spreads a Contagious, Human Joy for the 2023-24 Holidays

Louis Vuitton delivers smile-worthy holiday cheer in its first episode of a multi-segmented campaign lensed by Oliver Hadlee Pearch [IG] with video by Lope Serrano.

The Maison’s Mascot Vivienne and her friend Teddy arrive to explore all the Maison’s creations. As regulars, they might become treasured ornaments as the years go by — and we are eager to keep track of them.

These darling little creatures pop up everywhere in a distinct statement that whimsy is part of the holiday season and we are quietly encouraged to get “out of ourselves” and into the world of humanity.

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Louis Vuitton Taps Pharrell Williams As First Guest of Podcast 'Louis Vuitton Extended' Out Now

Louis Vuitton Taps Pharrell Williams As First Guest of Podcast 'Louis Vuitton Extended' Out Now

Louis Vuitton is launching a podcast with popular French fashion journalist, documentary maker and YouTuber Loïc Prigent. Called ‘Louis Vuitton Extended’, the podcast will dive deeper into the scenes of what’s happening behind the scenes at one of the world’s premier luxury houses. That Prigent-guided conversation includes the house’s cultural codes, values and activism.

In the case of Louis Vuitton Men’s creative director Pharrell Williams, the dialogue will focus on the June 20, 2023 show and all the decisions made around its structure and content.

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Louis Vuitton Mens FW 2023 Campaign Images | White Americans in Paris 1923

Louis Vuitton Mens FW 2023 Campaign Images | White Americans in Paris 1923

Louis Vuitton Men’s has released images from the FW 2023 collection, co-created by Colm Dillane [IG], aka Kid Super, and the Louis Vuitton Men’s studio design team.

Marq Rise styled the shoot with images by Paul Kooiker [IG].

Preparing to write these words, I scrolled my Apple News for any event connected to this post.

The Universe Dials In

You may or may not have read my recent post about American jazz musicians seeking refuge in the French Riviera — and not only to perform.

Apple News just shared one of those “on this day 100 years ago” articles from yesterday — as if it fell into this post. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued this statement on August 2, 1923:

“Some foreign tourists, forgetting that they are our guests and that they, therefore, owe respect to our customs and our laws, have lately, on several occasions, violently shown their disapproval when they have found men of colour from French colonies sitting near them in public places. They have even gone so far as to demand their expulsion in insulting terms. If similar incidents recur measures of redress will be taken.”

The Racists in Paris Were White American Tourists

The foreign tourists not respecting French customs and laws were Americans. Follow the link at top of post to the entire story of the ugly [and presumably rich] Americans in Paris.

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Dan Beleiu Shoots Dara Gueye, Hedi Ben Tekaya and Jay Jang for Louis Vuitton Men Pre-Fall

Dan Beleiu Shoots Dara Gueye, Hedi Ben Tekaya and Jay Jang for Louis Vuitton Men Pre-Fall

Models Dara Gueye, Hedi Ben Tekaya and Jay Jang are styled by Marq Rise in select pieces from the Louis Vuitton Men Pre Fall 2024 collection.

Photographer Dan Beleiu [IG] is behind the lens with set design by Sophear Van Froment and art direction by Lucie Matussiere. / Hair by Christian Eberhard; makeup by Adrien Pinault

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Rihanna Fronts New Louis Vuitton Speedy Bag Campaign in Canal Street Colors

Rihanna Fronts New Louis Vuitton Speedy Bag Campaign in Canal Street Colors

The Louis Vuitton Speedy bag is an iconic fashion statement that has withstood the test of time. Introduced in the 1930s, this elegant and practical handbag has become a symbol of luxury, sophistication, and timeless style.

Rihanna Fronts New LV Speedy Bag Campaign

In June 2023, fashion world adds Rihanna to the list of famous women who love a Louis Vuitton Speedy bag. Rihanna is an insider at LVMH, besides being a good friend of Pharrell Williams, the new creative director of Louis Vuitton Men who had a blowout opening night in Paris last week.

Shot by Japanese photographer Keizō Kitajima and American artist Martine Syms shot the campaign images in which, Rihanna hustles around the city with her Speedys, a modern woman with a to-go coffee in hand and her pregnant belly bared.

To mimic the candy-colored designer dupes he used to find on Canal Street sidewalks, Pharrell employed a novel silkscreen monogramming process to induce “a blurry, artisanal and almost hand-painted effect” on the new Louis Vuitton Speedy bag colors — which also coincide with the Olympic rings colors.

After a raid on the Paris 2024 Olympics offices before Pharrell’s debut, the hoped for LVMH sponsorship remains unannounced.

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Louis Vuitton Mens Hip Elegance: A Smart Critic Asks "Can Good Taste Change the World?"

Louis Vuitton Mens Hip Elegance: A Smart Critic Asks "Can Good Taste Change the World?"

Power shifts are happening and not everybody has gotten the message. Clearly, significant numbers of people are not pleased with these new dynamics that are now obvious after the Pharrell Williams Louis Vuitton Men’s show on April 20.

That’s a shame, because the minute models hit the most spectacular runway in Paris — on the Pont Neuf overlooking the Seine my immediate response was about the elegant tailoring and then the accessories.

The ‘Liberty’ luggage truck also told me that EVERY detail was in order around this epic Pharrell Williams blast-off.

It was only on Monday Juneteenth, that I learned about the Statue of Liberty as a gift to America from France, honoring the official end of slavery in America.

This new day Paris Cafe Society is just getting started, but it is real.

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New Louis Vuitton Ambassador J-Hope Drops Keepall Bag Campaign 2023

New Louis Vuitton Ambassador J-Hope Drops Keepall Bag Campaign 2023

BTS's J-Hope stars in his first campaign as a solo Louis Vuitton ambassador, rocking his dance moves in the new LV Keepall bag campaign. Vuitton, in their Keepall campaign announcement, described BTS as "21st-century pop icons," while emphasizing J-Hope's unique appeal.

Back in 1930, as international travel began to flourish, the need for a spacious, durable travel companion became apparent. In response to this demand, Louis Vuitton introduced the Keepall, a groundbreaking design that revolutionized the way people carried their belongings.

Members of 1930s cafe society constantly interacted with artists of all mediums, and J-Hope’s Louis Vuitton Keepall campaign projects a subdued but very hip elegance.

Let’s see how this next chapter with Pharrell Williams and Pietro Beccari, Louis Vuitton’s new Chairman and CEO evolves. It appears that the original or siblings of the original Keepall are about to bust out in an array of Olympic rings colors. ~ Anne

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Pharrell Taps Rihanna for LV Mens | LVMH Close to Securing Major 2024 Olympics Deal

Pharrell Taps Rihanna for LV Mens  | LVMH Close to Securing Major 2024 Olympics Deal

The show marking Pharrell Williams' first collection for Louis Vuitton Mens, will take place in the City of Lights on June 20, 2023, at 8:30 p.m. Louis Vuitton execs used their considerable influence to change Pharrell’s debut date

On the subject of those delicious bag colors, read on about LVMH sponsoring the 2024 Olympics in Paris, promoting Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and LVMH spirits.

In fact, it wouldn’t surprise AOC to see LVMH promoting their jointly-owned [50-50] with Jay-Z, Armand de Brignac champagne brand at the Olympics.

That would be one hell of a party! Alas, it won’t be a public event, but Mory Sacko will be in the kitchen. LVMH really wants to step out in the Olympics and they could pull this off in a big way.

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Louis Vuitton Men Taigarama Bags Summer 2023 Campaign Lensed by Tom Johnson

Louis Vuitton Men Taigarama Bags Summer 2023 Campaign Lensed by Tom Johnson

Louis Vuitton Men releases the Taigarama Summer 2023 Campaign with models Akito Mizutani, Choi Mabior, Limamu Mbaye and Lucas El Bali styled by Pau Avia.

Tom Johnson [IG] photographs the campaign, with art direction by Lucie Matussiere./ Hair by Christian Eberhard; makeup by Christine Corbel

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What If the Louis Vuitton Men's 'Crochet Leather Overshirt' Came With Its Own DNA Test?

What If the Louis Vuitton Men's 'Crochet Leather Overshirt' Came With Its Own DNA Test?

Technically-speaking, when Virgil Abloh’s parents came from Ghana and settled in Rockford, Ill. which is close to Chicago, he was conceived in what once was New France in North America.

The design of the Louis Vuitton ‘Crochet Leather Overshirt’ is hardly workwear in the style of the American West . . . or even coal miners in Appalachia. Those pretty crochet Louis Vuitton flowers and emblems would get real dusty damn fast.

To purchase the jacket will cost you $37,000 and it’s made to order, so you must contact your local LV to pursue the conversation.

OMG! What LV could do under Pharrell is to create the patches custom — with plenty of LVs, of course. But after purchasing a DNA test as part of the jacket, the wearer could learn his/her roots. Then a select number of patches could honor those roots.

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Digging Deeper Into Pharrell Williams' Real Mission at Louis Vuitton Mens

Digging Deeper Into Pharrell Williams' Real Mission at Louis Vuitton Mens

A fashion industry earthquake happened this week with the appointment of Pharrell Williams as Creative Director at Louis Vuitton Men’s, replacing his close friend Virgil Abloh who passsed in November 2021. The hip hop mogul, business entrepreneur, social activist with a high-volume voice on racial and gender-justice has drawn major criticism from fashion writers who argue that Pharrell’s lack of a formal design education indicates that all that matters to LVMH is his celebrity status.

I don’t mean to sound sassy, but knowing that Louis Vuitton doubled its volume from $10 billion to $20 billion in the last four years suggests that this executive team knows what it’s doing. I’m a maverick to the core and rarely silent on important topics.

But I do show respect to professionals who have just accomplished unimaginable results in business, results that defy logic. Before accusing them of being money-hungry Las Vegas strippers ready to trash the most valuable brand in the luxury world for a few bucks, I dig deeper.

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The Beautiful Pharrell Williams has been Named Louis Vuitton Men’s Creative Director

The Beautiful Pharrell Williams has been Named Louis Vuitton Men’s Creative Director

I never praise myself, but I KNEW Pharrell was the perfect human for Louis Vuitton Mens and that LV would see it that way, too.

I’ve asked Louis Vuitton Mens [and Dior — too — both men and women] and Etro this morning to pick up the mantle that few businesses can lead. LVMH is well aware of what I am saying. And they are listening.

This video about Pharrell’s ‘Black Ambition’ organization is only about two years old. Clearly Virgil knew how ill he was, but we see here Virgil and Pharrell really speaking to issues of black success. The convo goes deep into their values as humans.

Felecia Hatcher is very succesful in her own right and she serves as CEO of ‘Black Ambition’.

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