Assorted famous faces from outside the fashion world, from David Beckham to Terrence Koh, could be spotted at the just-concluded European menswear shows, but by far the most visible celebrity was Kanye West, who apparently came directly from the inauguration to attend the Paris shows. As has been widely reported, Kanye, a fashion week veteran, was in town for the launch of his new sneaker collaboration with Louis Vuitton; he was seated in the front row at the Vuitton show last Thursday, sporting a new haircut (described by one observer as a “fro-hawk”) and wearing the new kicks in red. Slick and slightly sci-fi, the shoes are pleasingly simple, with a large back tongue and Vuitton insignia along the sole representing the only significant ornamentation. They’re flashy and smart without being gimmicky, and are clearly intended to be worn either dressed up or dressed down. It’s easy to imagine seeing them everywhere once Louis Vuitton releases them this June.

Being a sartorially inclined fellow, Kanye was a ubiquitous presence in the front row the rest of the weekend, viewing each look from behind dark glasses, snapping pictures of his favorites on a digital camera. Following a Thursday night Vuitton dinner in his honor, he showed up with an eight-strong entourage at Junya Watanabe, Rick Owens, Kris Van Assche, Comme des Garçons, Raf Simons, Hermès, Lanvin, Dior Homme, and Dunhill, among others. Talking before Gareth Pugh’s much-anticipated debut men’s show, which concluded the weekend, Kanye remarked that he loved Junya, but “Raf’s my boy.” About the shoes, he noted that they’d be available in a variety of colors, pointing to the black ones he was wearing. They represented his desire to make fashion accessible, as opposed to the “$9,000-dollar sweater,” he said, then mentioned how honored he was to work with Louis Vuitton. Kanye’s announcement late last year that he wanted to intern for Vuitton or Raf Simons sparked much amused conversation, but clearly his commitment to fashion is real, and his entrée into the fashion world seems to be moving along post-haste.

KEYWORDS: clothing, fashion, Kanye West, Louis Vuitton, Paris Menswear Fall/Winter 09/10, Raf Simons, Sneakers

* Required Field

Your Name: *

Your E-Mail: *

Your Remark:

Friend's Name: *

Separate multiple entries with a comma. Maximum 5 entries.

Friend's E-Mail: *

Separate multiple entries with a comma. Maximum 5 entries.

Image Verification: *

 Loading ...