Remember When Kanye West Carried a Goyard Briefcase to Paris Fashion Week?

Everybody has one: that unfortunate photo from high school or college that elicits a “what the hell was I thinking?” smack on the forehead. We’ve all fallen victim to the pull of passing trends and trying them on head-to-toe. For this writer, it was an Ugg-trucker hat-velour-tracksuit combo circa the mid-2000s. Even those who’ve managed to outgrow their awkward phase and rise to some level of success within the fashion industry have had their moments. Enter the sartorial disruptor himself,Kanye West. It was around 2009 when he made his entrée into the ranks of street style stardom, posing for a photo snapped by Tommy Ton outside of theComme des Garçonsshow in Paris.

Dressed in a preppy navy sport coat, a plaid trench, brown leather gloves and holding a Goyard briefcase, West was flanked by a motley crew. Fonzworth Bentley (remember him?) was there, as was now Off-White designer Virgil Abloh, who is almost unrecognizable in a bright blue Moncler puffer vest, bow tie, thick red eyeglasses, and bright yellow sneakers. This was the moment that West started getting some real attention for his look and most of it wasn’t good. Just after the photo was released, he was featured in an episode ofSouth Parkthat mocked his music and his style bravado, referring specifically to Ton’s widely shared photo.

“Some may think that this is the ultimate street style peacocking image,” Ton told Vogue.com. “But this was actually before street style had become such a phenomenon and you could really see how much Kanye loved fashion and clothes, and Virgil did too.” So how did it all go down? “I saw Kanye and his posse walk from their car towards us and there was no paparazzi. They saw me and the one other photographer there and just stopped to assemble in formation in front of us.” He added, “They were all so cool and chill about it and I was more than happy to document this moment.” Ton is now good friends with both West and Abloh and says that he’s amazed at how far they’ve come in their careers and fashion endeavors.

WithParis Fashion Weekramping up, it’s worth taking a second look at some of the risk-takers rushing to and from the shows. As absurd as the ensembles may seem, you never know how far someone with a full-onlewkmight go.

(Vogue)