NY Fashion Week: Alexander Wang

By Emily Borrett.

Alexander Wang A/W 2011-12

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If Paris Fashion Week is the mecca of elegant couture, and Milan Fashion Week the source of all high-octane glamour, then New York Fashion Week is the home of cool. And it doesn’t come much cooler than the gritty, slick designs of Alexander Wang, whose shows we absolutely always look forward to the moment when NYFW rolls around again.

The young designer exploded into our consciousness a few seasons ago with his tough, punk aesthetic. Did you rock a fishtail plait last year, covet a studded leather jacket or embrace sportwear as the pinnacle of cool? If so then you’ve got Mr. Wang to thank for it, whose raw and modern take on rock and roll has turned fashion around. Following his last Spring/Summer show, which was an unexpected collection of laid-back separates and a complete departure from his signature look, we breathed a sigh of relief to see him return to what he does best at NY Fashion Week yesterday.

The models were definitely dressed for a cold and rainy New York winter as they stomped down the runway in an interesting mix of quilted leather, knitted black and grey ponchos, metal jewellery and fur collars. There was a pretty balance between hard and soft in the textures and shapes used in the collection – we especially loved his buttery, black biker-girl jacket with a huge fur collar teamed up with beautifully tailored silk trousers. Is this what Joan Jett would look like if she grew up and got a job in an art gallery in the Big Apple? We hope so.

Though the collection was more subtle than some of Wang’s past collections (we didn’t see a single stud anywhere), there were still plenty of his signature quirk and charm in the accessories. Fur headbands, metal bracelets and fluffy shoes may only be for the brave, but at Fashion Week it was pure New York perfection.