Ballerific Fashion: Pharrell Williams Unveils Louis Vuitton’s New ButterSoft Sneaker, Drawing Inspiration from Classic Nike Design

Pharrell Williams has introduced a new Louis Vuitton sneaker that seemingly draws inspiration from a classic Nike shoe.

As Pharrell gears up for his fourth runway show at Louis Vuitton Men’s, which will unfold in Paris on January 21st, excitement is building. While much of the attention has been on the revival of the Takashi Murakami collection, Pharrell has already given fans a taste of what’s coming.

In a strategic move ahead of the runway chaos, Pharrell revealed the ButterSoft sneaker—a sleek new design that has quickly ignited comparisons. Some fans noted its resemblance to his Ice Cream Boardflip from the mid-’00s, while others pointed to the Nike Cortez. The sneaker features bold “LV” branding at the midfoot and is set to be released in over 40 different colorways.

Although details about the ButterSoft sneaker remain scarce, Pharrell posted it solely to his @skateboard Instagram account. It’s expected to play a central role in Louis Vuitton’s Fall/Winter 2025 show. Fans are eagerly awaiting its debut, with the sneaker set to drop later in the year.