Usher’s Sleek Wardrobe for Paris Fashion Week Was “a Performance”

At the week’s biggest-ticket shows, Usher was impressed by the theatricality on display as much as the clothes. At Louis Vuitton, which collaborated with KidSuper this season, he was focused on Rosalía’s special performance. “I almost watched her more than the clothes; I was so caught up in what she was doing,” he says. “It’s a hard line to walk in the shadows of someone that is so beloved, with Virgil’s passing. It’s a hard act to follow. But the energy felt young and vibrant.” At Ami, he was blown away by Moses, who also sang for the show. “Man, I’m such a huge fan,” says Usher. “We didn’t see his face—you just heard his voice. It was a reminder that even in a grand space, sophistication and simplicity will always win.”

At all the presentations, the star made sure to bring his own statement looks. “I like to pay respect to the designers with what I wear, because I want them to know that I’m a fan of what they do,” says Usher. “I like to show how I put together something from their collection.” Some of his favorite looks from the week included the all-gray leather look he wore to Rick Owens. “I loved my Rick outfit—I think it murdered,” he says. “I was the only person in the room with gray on.” He also dyed his hair orange especially for fashion week. “I started off with my hair orange, and by the end of the trip, I turned my hair [back to] black,” he says. “No artist should ever stay one way or do one thing consistently forever; We need to be able to spread our wings and have fun.”

The star says now that fashion week is over, he’s got his creative juices flowing for his upcoming projects. “I left feeling highly energized—like my artist battery has been charged,” he says. Currently, he’s working as an executive producer on the upcoming Storyville, a New Orleans-set jazz age series. He’s also getting ready to hit the stage again in Las Vegas, where he has a successful residency, titled My Way, at the Park MGM resort. He says he’s now inspired to bring some new fashions to the stage.  “Expect the unexpected—especially with me,” says Usher. “I’m so defiant about being in a box, that I probably want to be buried in, like, a triangle.”

Below, a closer look inside Usher’s Paris Fashion Week.