Formalwear is coming home. Real Madrid and England maestro Jude Bellingham is taking his starboy qualities off the pitch, swapping a muddy Galácticos kit for jacquard suiting as the face of Louis Vuitton’s latest collection.
Designed by LV creative director Pharrell Williams, the New Formal Collection “reimagines the Maison’s quintessential creations with a modern flair,” according to a message from the French luxury house.
In practice, this means classic menswear staples, reimagined through Pharrell’s hyper-contemporary lens; evening shirts and singlet rings given the monogram treatment, leather-accented chore coats, even a pair of silk pajamas, all draped in a refined palette of navy, midnight and black. In typical LV fashion, the smattering of leather goods are particularly tasteful, with a variety of full-grain leather sling and messenger bags.
Photographed by visual artist Arnaud Lajeunie, “The New Formal Collection” presents Bellingham suited and booted in LV’s new range of modern tailoring and workwear silhouettes, with the midfield modeling a host of tonal tuxedos, louche cashmere half-zips and luxe workwear-inspired outerwear — effortlessly sophisticated, much like Bellingham’s play style.
The partnership makes sense, in more ways than one. The midfielder is no rookie (Bellingham previously featured prominently in Skims’ athlete-heavy mens launch) and has long had a relationship with Louis Vuitton, making it official as a “Friend of the Brand” nearly a year ago. His team, Real Madrid, has a similar situation with the French fashion house, who recently announced they’ll be supplying an exclusive travel collection for the football club.
Louis Vuitton’s latest batch of formalwear arrives in stores on August 28; you can view the entire collection here. For now, just enjoy the photos of Jude.
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