Paris Men’s Fashion Week: Hermes goes breezy, Dior goes catty, and LV covers up
PARIS — With pleated Bermuda shorts, muted pastels and cinched parkas, French label Hermes presented a breezy summer 2025 collection at Paris Men’s Fashion Week that was marked by light, natural materials.
There were few patterns on display as models wearing leather sandals with crisscrossed straps strode down the runway in short-sleeved overshirts, light-weight jackets and tailored trousers made from fabrics such as canvas and crepe cotton twill. (The show can be watched here: https://www.hermes.com/us/en/ )
They carried bags in denim canvas as well as a calfskin version of the label’s roomy Bolide model in the latest collection presented by Veronique Nichanian, the fashion house’s longtime artistic director for menswear.
Paris Men’s Fashion Week takes place this year as the luxury sector faces slowing demand for clothing and accessories, especially in China, a key market, where shoppers of high-end fashion are seeking more discreet styles.
GIANT CATS AT THE DIOR SHOW
Dior men’s artistic director Kim Jones showed his summer 2025 collection for the LVMH-owned label on a Paris runway decorated with giant cat sculptures on Friday. (You can see the show here: https://tinyurl.com/45s8fpj5)
“These are the cats that spoke to me the most — they meowed to me,” said Mr. Jones, describing the quirky ceramic animals created by South African artist Hylton Nel.
Models marched past them in tailored trousers and bermuda-length shorts, sleeveless knits in pale colors and chunky shoes with clog-like toes. Sparkly brooches and embellished coats brightened the muted color palette, and saddle bags came in extra-large and extra small sizes.
“An elegant life” was painted on the pedestal of one sculpture — a lounging cat-headed creature with a woman’s body, wearing bright red lipstick and matching high heeled shoes.
PHARRELL WILLIAMS FOR LOUIS VUITTON
Louis Vuitton (LV) men’s creative director Pharrell Williams took to an outdoor, turf-lined runway at UNESCO headquarters on Tuesday last week, opening Paris Fashion week with an evening show.
The world’s biggest fashion label, known for its checked damier patterns and monogrammed trunks, drew on a travel theme for the spring summer 2025 men’s collection, with a towering globe sculpture, rows of international flags and — in the distance — the Eiffel Tower as a backdrop. (The show can be seen here: https://tinyurl.com/2p8yp7c7)
Models strode down the grass catwalk in crisply tailored suits, slick bomber jackets and fur coats, with rhinestone-encrusted sunglasses and chunky, airplane-wing brooches, while an orchestra and choir performed music produced by Williams.
The LVMH-owned label drew an audience of 1,500, as well as screaming crowds on the street outside, angling to catch arrivals of celebrity guests, who included NBA basketball player Victor Wembanyama, actor Michael Fassbender, and K-pop star Jackson Wang.
The Paris men’s fashion shows come as France gears up for the summer Olympics, as well as two rounds of elections in the coming weeks, which have thrown the country into political disarray. Construction of Olympics venue sites has clogged traffic and pushed some fashion shows to the outskirts of the city center.
The shows wound up on Sunday and will be followed by Haute Couture week. — Reuters
