Exciting Lineup and Debuts: A Preview of the Spring/Summer 2024 Menswear Season

 "Highly Anticipated Menswear Shows: From Pharrell Williams' Debut to Traditional Runways"

This month, there will be numerous menswear runway shows taking place across major European fashion capitals like London and Paris for the Spring/Summer 2024 season. One highly anticipated event is Pharrell Williams' debut at Louis Vuitton during Paris Fashion Week. He was announced as the successor to the late Virgil Abloh earlier this year, and his show on June 20 is expected to draw significant attention.

Apart from Pharrell's showcase, there are several other designers worth keeping an eye on. Pierpaolo Piccioli, known for his work with Valentino, is returning to menswear with a show at Paris Fashion Week. Rhuigi Villaseñor and Ludovic de Saint Sernin, who recently left their positions at Bally and Ann Demeulemeester respectively, will also be presenting their own labels in Paris, garnering extra attention.

In terms of the overall menswear shows, there has been a shift back to traditional gender-specific presentations. Valentino, Gucci, and Versace have all returned to separate men's and women's shows after experimenting with co-ed runways. Co-ed shows initially helped brands streamline their fashion calendars and reduce their environmental impact, but for brands with distinct men's and women's lines, it often meant menswear getting overshadowed by more flamboyant womenswear.

The Pitti Uomo trade show in Florence, taking place between London Men's Fashion Week and Milan Fashion Week, is known for injecting excitement into menswear with its street style and a mix of emerging and established brands. This edition will feature Fendi showcasing its newly opened Fendi Factory, while designer Eli Russell Linnetz will present a show inspired by the Planet of the Apes.

Several notable designers will be showing at Paris Fashion Week, including Feng Chen Wang, Ziggy Chen, Sean Suen, and Shangguan Zhe's Sankuanz label. However, some brands will be absent, such as Saint Laurent, which will have its menswear presentation in Berlin, and Bode and Casablanca, which will not be participating in the June calendar.

Pharrell Williams' debut collection for Louis Vuitton is expected to be one of the highlights of the menswear shows. His success in this role will have implications not only for LVMH but also for other luxury brands, as it will raise questions about the value of having a superstar creative director versus a more traditional designer.

Regardless of Pharrell's show, there will be plenty of exciting fashion to look forward to, including shows by JW Anderson's Loewe, Chitose Abe's Sacai, and Dior by Kim Jones, the former menswear director at Louis Vuitton.