The designer presented his AW18 collection in the old Vogue offices on Times Square
Having announced his AW18 show would be his last on the NYFW schedule – instead he’ll be showing in line with the pre-collection shows in June and December – Alexander Wang last night seemed intent on going out with a bang. With the show taking place in an old office, the collection was boardroom ready – or at least, Wang boardroom ready – with more than a hint of The Matrix’s Trinity. Here’s everything you need to know.
THE SHOW TOOK PLACE IN THE OLD CONDÉ NAST OFFICE
...where Wang interned, first for Teen Vogue and then for Vogue itself, way back before he founded his eponymous label. Downstairs, a sign reading AWG: Serving the Industry Since 2004 had been added to the entrance, while upstairs the space was decorated in fifty shades of beige (those carpet tiles!). Attendees sat amongst makeshift cubicles, as office-style music and the clattering of high heels played out across the soundsystem.
ANNA WINTOUR SAT NEXT TO CARDI B
Someone who obviously knew her way around Wang’s office venue, given she’s been leading Vogue for 30 years now, was Anna Wintour. Less likely to not get lost on her way to the water cooler was the one and only Cardi B, which is perhaps why Wang chose to sit the two next to each other on the FROW (where else?). We’d love to have been a fly on the wall listening in to that conversation.
THE WANG GIRL HAS A DAY JOB NOW
Having made his name designing clothes for women who will gladly stay up all night dancing before sauntering home at dawn, this season Wang’s collection was more boardroom than bar. Featuring blazers of mini proportions, leather skirt suits, high-waisted leather trousers and more than a few 80s power-shouldered sweaters, the designer presented his take on contemporary workwear. Albeit with a Wang-twist – in the form of zip-detailing, futuristic sunglasses, bondage-style bags and accessories, and crystal-encrusted platinum card and ’CEO 2018’ motifs throughout – the latter a tongue-in-cheek nod to his recent resignation as CEO of his company.
THERE WERE MORE MATRIX VIBES
Wang is another designer that’s seemingly tapping into the 1997 movie, with leather trenches, leather trousers and, well, a lot of leather featuring heavily. There was also Wang’s take on the tiny sunglasses sported by Neo, Trinity, Morpheus et al, while hair was slicked back into neat chignons, held in place by potentially the most 90s of 90s accessories: the claw clip.
