Pharrell x Chanel: What to Expect

The news of  an unexpected collaboration sparked a flurry of excitement in the fashion world.

Rapper Pharrell Williams will be working with Chanel to design a capsule collection. Instantly recognized for his streetwear aesthetic, Pharrell has done past collaborations with Adidas and Uniqlo UT. No wonder it came as a bit of a surprise when this popstar announced that he would be working with the more formal, feminine brand to design his upcoming collection. According to Elle, the Chanel collaboration is set to debut in March 2019 in Chanel’s flagship shop in Seoul, and will be available in stores starting on April 4.

Pharrell’s personal style sheds light on the look he wants to create with Chanel. He is often seen sporting brightly-colored jackets and graphic sneakers, and usually tops it off with bold accessories, namely fedora-style hats, caps, and oversized statement sunglasses. Pharrell does not shy away from risky trends; he has experimented with the denim-on-denim looks and print mixing. He loves to juxtapose casual and formal wear (let’s not forget the time he wore Converse with his suit!).

Chanel, a brand which has a more traditional and soft approach to fashion, does not typically debut comfortable, streetwear-style clothing. It seems, though, that Chanel will adopt Pharrell’s casual vibe for this collaboration, which shows that they are willing to step outside of their comfort zone to work with such an icon. Though none of the collection pieces have been released yet, Pharrell was seen sporting a mustard colored Chanel hoodie this past October in Thailand at the Chanel Cruise show . The hoodie, which strays far away from anything seen on a Chanel runway, displays the grungier, street-style aesthetic of a brand like Adidas. This may indicate the look of the Chanel x Pharrell collaboration.

Pharrell released a pair of sneakers with Chanel back in November 2017, and according to WWD, the resale price was upwards of $120,000. This steep price tag is undoubtedly something we can expect to see in this collection.

These style predictions are consistent with Pharrell’s past collaborations. In 2009, Pharrell worked in collaboration with Italian brand Moncler to create a line of brightly colored outerwear as well as sunglasses. That collection showcased Pharrell’s prior experience designing streetwear looks with very high-end brands. Based on these past releases, we might speculate that this Chanel collection will feature modern pieces with Pharrell’s special touch.

Pharrell’s looks are always consistent and unique, which shows that the norm does not alway need to be “on trend.” Therefore, the possibilities are endless for Chanel x Pharrell.