This season, the Big Dog at Louis Vuitton menswear turned the house into one niche à chien. In addition to a barking selection of dog accessories from LVers brand – including a bowl, harness, poop bag holder, collar and a gorgeous OTT Louis Vuitton doghouse – Pharrell Williams and his studio have also launched a pedigree collection of menswear and human accessories. .
There were a lot of good guys in this lookbook. The fun was spotting the various dog-related details inserted into the men’s clothing. These include an intarsia sheepskin jacket and sneaker with Dalmatian dots, a dog logo shirt, loafers with bone charm collar details, a souvenir silk jacket with double dog portrait, dog portrait bandanas, many best-in-show rosettes and an ingeniously designed “meta houndstooth ” which substituted a dog head for the more traditional chicken leg element. Dog-sized berets were worn alongside man-sized berets, and bone-shaped suitcases and multiple dog luggage tags – in paw print or portrait designs – were spread across a collection of bags that included freshly made Keepalls and Messengers and a new four-pocket bag. Cargo Hobo design.
It wasn’t just about dogs. Jumbo slippers and cat-patterned loafers made for an inclusive gesture, while the backdrop for all that puppy product was a menswear collection that expanded Willams’ particular take on contemporary dandyism. The rosettes pointed to the dog show ceremony, which proved to be a bridge to looks that reference British menswear tradition. These references include a sleeveless cricket jersey, LV custom argyle pattern custom, and some Fair Isle knit. Williams’ favorite bootcut silhouette was nicely developed in a denim bleu de travail look with the house emblem, while the broader postmodern Ivy League wardrobe was present and correct.
Williams’ closest previous collaboration with dogs probably counts as 2004’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” so why make such a hype about dogs now? LV’s Big Dog was not made available to explain, although it is an established fact that in times of financial stress, many pet owners will put their animals above almost everything else. Whatever the reason, this collection is sure to set off many tongues and tails.
