Inside Baz Luhrmann and Pharrell Williams’s Elvis-Themed Joopiter Auction Party
On Saturday night, Hôtel Particulier Montmartre became the backdrop for one of Paris Fashion Week’s most cinematic soirées. The eccentric venue—located just steps from Baz Luhrmann’s Paris home and long favored by the director—was transformed into a lush film set of its own. Ivy-covered walls, flickering lanterns, and even a lone chicken roosting in the garden trees created a surreal, countryside-in-the-city tableau worthy of Elvis himself.
The evening marked a celebration of Joopiter’s Elvis auction and Luhrmann’s upcoming documentary EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert. Inside, the star artifact of the sale—a black and gold belt by Mouawad, glittering with precious stones—was displayed under soft lighting. Crafted for Luhrmann as a good-luck talisman for the film’s Cannes premiere, it also appears in Elvis’s opening credits. “It’s truly a one-of-one,” noted Caitlin Donovan, Joopiter’s Global Head of Sale. “It’s not just an accessory—it’s part of the movie’s mythology.” Luhrmann added with a grin, “It’s a piece of art, really.”
Pharrell Williams and Luhrmann welcomed an eclectic crowd of friends and collaborators, including Anna Wintour, Daft Punk’s Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, Jaden Smith, Bella Freud, Annie from AllDay Project, and more. The fashion followed suit—equal parts rock ’n’ roll and theatrical glamour. Luhrmann wore a full Prada look from the Fall 2025 menswear runway: a brown leather suit, crisp white shirt, Texan boots, and Miu Miu glasses—a subtle nod to Elvis’s iconic leather era. “Miuccia and I go back 35 years,” he said earlier. “Something a little bit rock and roll, a little bit Elvis.” Pharrell, ever effortless, opted for light-wash flared Louis Vuitton denim and a black croc-print leather jacket, with a monogram Speedy P9 Bandoulière 25 slung across his shoulder. Donovan, meanwhile, sparkled in a vintage fringed Escada blazer: “If there’s ever a time to wear this, it’s for Elvis,” she laughed.
As Moët Chandon flutes clinked and DJ Pedro Winter spun downstairs, Luhrmann hopped onto a footstool to deliver a speech straight out of one of his own films. “Pharrell and I join spiritually in one way,” he told the crowd. “We don’t see silos when it comes to culture—whether it’s music, film, or fashion.” He reminisced about growing up in a small country town, collecting ticket stubs and brochures as talismans of the art world he longed to join, and how collectors today preserve rare Elvis footage used in EPiC. The moment ended with a warm embrace between Luhrmann and Pharrell before the two joined the dance floor. “This is Baz’s show,” Pharrell said earlier. “His vision is great—it’s an opportunity to storytell.” Donovan added, “You can bid on props, jewels, or even experience lots—like watching EPiC with Baz himself.”
The sale, ELVIS: The EPiC Vision of Baz Luhrmann, runs on Joopiter.com from October 2 to October 16, closing at 6 p.m. EDT. Alongside rare artifacts and one-of-a-kind experiences, Joopiter and Luhrmann will release a limited-edition merch capsule inspired by the film. But on this Paris Fashion Week night—amid footstool speeches, garden chickens, and plenty of rock ’n’ roll glamour—the story belonged to Baz and Pharrell: two cultural polyglots throwing a party fit for the King.
Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com1/9Chitose Abe, Jasmine Mullers
Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com2/9Chitose Abe, Pharrell Williams