Twenty years ago, multi-talented protégé Pharrell Williams joined forces with streetwear forefather Nigo and Louis Vuitton, under the helm of Marc Jacobs at the time, to create what would become an iconic piece of eyewear: the Louis Vuitton Millionaires Sunglasses.
Fast forward to 2024, and Williams is once again making fashion history, this time from his new perch as Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Creative Director, as he reintroduces the Millionaires in celebration of their 20th anniversary.
Back in 2004, the Millionaires were just as opulent as the name would suggest. The straight brow of the frames was reinforced with aged gold metal strips, stamped repeatedly with the house’s iconic symbols.
It was an unapologetic display of luxury that screamed, “I’ve arrived”—and indeed, Pharrell did. These sunglasses marked his first design collaboration with the brand, mixing the worlds of music and fashion in a way that Chanel, Moncler, and Louis Vuitton consistently trust Pharrell to do.
Now, two decades later, Pharrell returns to the Parisian fashion house bestowed with top brass—Men’s Fashion Director. To honor the legacy of the Millionaires, Louis Vuitton is relaunching the line with a fresh topcoat of Pharrell’s Western visuals.
The 2024 version of the Millionaires comes in two distinct frame shapes.
The first, dubbed the 1.0, is a close reinterpretation of the original. This model comes in two stylish colorways: a rich chocolate tortoise with gradient lenses, accented by a turquoise-blue hinge and gold details, and a sleek monochromatic black with aged gold detailing.
Between the two models, the Millionaires 1.0 is where Pharrell’s admiration for frontier fashion has better visibility.
The electric-blue enamel motifs over the hinges reference turquoise and its importance within Western fashion. This can be seen in the campaign photo above styled alongside the Turquoise Rodeo Earrings and Turquoise Rodeo Bolo.
With a complete material overhaul that includes a carbon fiber frame, the 3.0 Millionaires cost over $1300 more than the 1.0s.
Lightweight, flexible, and practically indestructible, the woven carbon-fiber exterior is a more subtle flex against the obvious luxury cues of the Millionaires 1.0.
The Millionaire 1.0 and Millionaire 3.0 will be available starting on August, 8th 2024 on Louis Vuitton’s website and select retail , locations.
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