NEW YORK, N.Y. - The audience at Alexander Wang is trained to know the best is coming last.
The mostly inventive black-and-white, pieced-leather looks, many seemingly held together by fishing wire, that filled the first part of Saturday's show at New York Fashion Week would have held Wang's place as one of the princes of cool. There were sporty parkas, tops inspired by hockey jerseys and even some more refined halter dresses.
Wang could have called it a collection and be done with it.
However, the final parade of nine models — all wearing a cream colour — had their embroidered tank tops, pencil skirts, crewneck dresses and Bermuda shorts turn into glow-in-the-dark lightsticks when they assumed a final pose on the runway and the lights went out.
Wang also created a stir by having model Liberty Ross — the wife of the director who Kristen Stewart had an affair with — walk the runway, along with the likes of Erin Wasson. Jennifer Aniston fiance actor Justin Theroux sat in the front row along with rapper A$AP Rocky.
In his notes, Wang said his spring collection aimed for "a linear quality" without too much sharpness.
"The juxtaposition of tension and suspension are captured between structure and fluidity while dissected pieces build on a new silhouette, which embodies lightness and delicacy," he said.
While the final results seemed simple at times, Wang explained that garments went through much fabric manipulation to get graphic results that didn't seem harsh.
"In such a short time, Alex has redefined urban utility," observed Laura Brown, Harper's Bazaar features and special projects director. "There's always a sexiness to his clothes, but this season he brought a glamour, too."
She picked a cut-out silver dress as her favourite. Meanwhile, model Maria Bradley said backstage before the show that she'd like to take home the silver T-shirt and black shorts she was to wear on the catwalk. "I wore his clothes from last season today. His clothes are the best!"
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