Fashion Meets Art: Unveiling the Captivating Moments of Men's Paris Fashion Week SS24

From Louis Vuitton’s embroideries of Henry Taylor’s signature portraits to SS Daley's drawing inspiration from Lucien Freud

It’s no secret that fashion and art share a deep and fluid relationship, constantly nurturing and inspiring one another. From**Yves Saint Laurent’s** "Mondrian" dress to the most recent Yayoi Kusama’s Louis Vuitton collaboration, the bond between the two continues to thrive. Most recently, Men’s Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2024 saw this harmony take center stage, offering flawless cohesion between disciplines.

Pharrell Williams’ debut collection at Louis Vuitton saw delicate embroideries featuring artist Henry Taylor’s signature portraiture adorning various pieces, and London-based designer S.S. Daley drew inspiration from Lucien Freud and David Hockney, presenting a collection that explored the shifting sexual identity of the early 1900s.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Anderson’s Loewe transformed a paddock into a perception playground, featuring monumental fountains by artist Lynda Benglis, and Acne Studios’ Jonny Johansson merged the "Grand Tour" concept with Swedish ceramic artist Per B. Sundberg’s prints. Finally, Kiko Kostadinov’s collection at Lycée Henri-IV referenced Pier Paolo Pasolini and Tom Burr.

Discover the top five moments when fashion imitated art during Men’s Paris Fashion Week SS24.

Louis Vuitton

There was quite a lot to take in from Pharrell Williams’ debut collection at Louis Vuitton for SS24: the golden-wrapped Paris’ Pont Neuf bridge, the star-studded view, the so-called "Damoflage." The joyful and vibrant showcase exuded love, passion, and community and paid tribute to the art of craft and legacy. Yet, amidst the 74 looks, one small but significant detail stood out, impossible to overlook even with a fleeting glance. Delicate embroidery, showcasing artist Henry Taylor’s signature portraiture style, adorned various pieces, ranging from denim suits, a skirt, and a cardigan to leather bags.

Notably, the American artist himself, renowned for his acrylic paintings, mixed media sculptures, and installations, graced the show, engaging in conversation with comedian Jerrod Carmichael along the scenic banks of the Seine. This collaboration with Louis Vuitton was not the first, as Taylor had previously joined forces with the brand in 2020 when he was invited to contribute to their innovative line of "Arty Capucines."

S.S. Daley

London-based designer S.S. Daley unveiled his SS24 collection titled "Merry Ment," drawing inspiration from artists Lucien Freud and David Hockney. The line-up featured playful wool renditions of sausage dogs, paying homage to Hockney’s beloved dachshunds. It showcased impeccably tailored jackets in brown ticking-striped linen and ecru cotton twill, adorned with burgundy zig-zag stitching inspired by vintage swimwear.

The overall theme paid tribute to British artists and workers, exploring their uniforms and the shifting sexual identity of the early 1900s. Clean-cut suiting was paired with pleated shorts, floral badges, and contrasting red stitching, while blooming hydrangeas adorned striped workwear sets. One of the sets incorporated a fruit bowl motif, referencing European still-life paintings. The campaign for the season drew inspiration from images of the artists in their studios, adding another layer of depth to the overall theme.

Loewe

Jonathan Anderson’s Loewe stands as the epitome of luxury fashion brands set at the intersection of fashion and art. For the men’s SS24 collection, an indoor training paddock meant for police horses was transformed into a playground of perceptions. Within this space, three monumental fountains, masterfully crafted by American sculptor and visual artist Lynda Benglis, effortlessly dwarfed the surrounding environment.

The collection served as a profound exploration of perspective—a deep dive into transcending the boundaries of mere visual perception, encompassing dimensions and scales that extend far beyond what meets the eye. Limbs grew elongated, waists ascended to new heights, and busts assumed a compacted form. According to Anderson, the fashion show itself became a dialogue with the viewers, seeking to challenge their perceptions and unravel the confines of traditional aesthetics. Naturally, Loewe could not resist the allure of surrealism, adding their signature touch to the proceedings. An exaggerated blue tabard, adorned with a giant needle piercing its apex, evoked the imagery of a pin cushion, a clever nod to Benglis’s bulbous sculptures.

Acne Studios

Jonny Johansson’s SS24 collection for Acne Studios explored the transformative nature of the 17th-century "Grand Tour" undertaken by young men across Europe. Johansson himself embarked on a trip to Venice last October to shape this season’s menswear line. Inspired by the city’s art, architecture, and Thomas Mann ambiance, Johansson delved into the psychology of personal style transformation during travel.

Yet the standout feature of the collection was the collaboration with Swedish ceramic artist Per B. Sundberg, whose signature ceramics are modeled after skulls, mushrooms, and other organic matter. The line-up included Mars Attacks!-inspired death’s head curios and garments featuring unsettling prints of whimsical animals and distorted wraith-like figures. The pieces were treated with a glassy finish, giving the impression of being encased in glass—an idea ignited during Johansson’s visit to Murano’s renowned glass blowers.

Kiko Kostadinov

Kiko Kostadinov is a master at drawing inspiration from art, which greatly influences his distinctive and intricate garment construction style. The show itself took place within the magnificent dome of the heritage library, located inside Paris’ Lycée Henri-IV public secondary school. For this particular collection, Kostadinov found esoteric inspiration in Pier Paolo Pasolini’s 1962 short film, ‘La Ricotta.’ The film provided a rich tapestry of references that influenced the collection’s structure, color palette, and the designer’s portrayal of early manhood.

Another noteworthy influence was the spatial artwork of American artist Tom Burr. Kostadinov explained how Burr’s work informed the intricate surface details of his collection, such as tacking, draping, and darting. Additionally, the concept of the lycée as a "Liminal space," bridging the gap between the show, backstage, and the influences behind it, was recontextualized in the collection. Kostadinov said that after 15 seasons, he wants to start self-referencing. In fact, items from Kostadinov’s previous works were left hanging on bookshelves in the hallway outside the show venue.

Men's Paris Fashion Week SS24 showcased the seamless fusion of fashion and art, with collections that paid homage to renowned artists and pushed creative boundaries. From Louis Vuitton's embroidered portraits to S.S. Daley's playful nods to Lucien Freud and David Hockney, each designer captured the essence of artistic expression. Loewe's transformation of a paddock with Lynda Benglis' monumental fountains and Acne Studios' collaboration with Per B. Sundberg added depth and surrealism. Kiko Kostadinov's incorporation of Pier Paolo Pasolini and Tom Burr demonstrated the power of artistic inspiration. Men's Paris Fashion Week SS24 celebrated the captivating relationship between fashion and art, igniting limitless possibilities.