Kendall Jenner walks for Alexander Wang Spring 2018 at New York Fashion Week. Indigital
New York Fashion Week – it made Alexander Wang. In an ode to the city that defined his career, Wang opted for an unusual Spring 2018 show setup. While it was no surprise that Wang’s muse du jour, Kaia Gerber, opened the show – setting the tone with millennial It girl magnetism – followed by Kendall Jenner and Vogue Arabia September cover star, Bella Hadid, little else was anticipated about this event.
Bella Hadid walks for Alexander Wang Spring 2018 at New York Fashion Week. Indigital
#Wangfest was a truly democratic affair that saw more than 32 supermodels land in three destinations across the city by bus – branded to Wang perfection in monochrome paint and smoked-out windows, naturally – with open tickets for the first 100 members of the public to respond to the designer’s Instagram invite. “I’ve been doing this for 12 years now and I wanted this season to be a love letter to New York – to the city that supported me from day one – and letting people see what is normally so closed off,” Wang told British Vogue.
Alexander Wang Spring 2018 at New York Fashion Week. Indigital
The first two pit stops were open to the public in Lafayette and Astor Place in Manhattan, and the fashion tour ended in Bushwick, Brooklyn, where the weary press and buyers waited, and waited. Having seen the unraveling story break out across Instagram, it was an interesting turn of the tables for the front row.
While the setup was primed for column inches and great PR spin, the collection proved to be one of Wang’s strongest for some seasons. Conceptually, it was no serious departure from his urbane, city-worn separates in leather and denim manifestations, but the dynamic of styling and detail proved to be well worth the bus stop wait.
Vogue.me lists the fashion lessons to learn from the week’s most-talked about show thus far…
#1: Invest in Supersized Leather Accessories
Alexander Wang Spring 2018 at New York Fashion Week. Indigital
As belts for Spring 2018 prove to be bolder than ever before, attention turns to accentuating the waist in buttersoft leather in carbon black. Wang’s tough corsetry made cargo pants, romantic lace, and khaki separates work together with ease.
#2: Go Halves with Textures
Alexander Wang Spring 2018 at New York Fashion Week. Indigital
Silk? Denim? Studs? Can’t decide? Do them all at once. Go nude with your footwear, cherry red with your handbag, and double up on textures to show how your mood can switch from girl-next-door to urban dynamo. The Middle Eastern spin on this? Cleverly layering textures underneath kaftans, abayas, or longline tunics… A hemline of lace worn with a cotton cover-up and punctuated with an on-point leather accessory will capture the vibe of #Wangfest.
#3: Mix Heavy Metals + Ladylike Staples
Alexander Wang Spring 2018 at New York Fashion Week. Indigital
Dainty Perspex stilettos and boyish ripped jeans are the perfect point of contrast here. Wear it with a chic, cropped jacket heavily laden with chunky choker pearls, and a leather neck-tie to keep the ladylike look on the edge.
#4: Reworked Classics Are In
Alexander Wang Spring 2018 at New York Fashion Week. Indigital
The skinny jean is made fresh at Alexander Wang Spring 2018 with reams of square studs covering the front. Knotted silken tote bags also add another texture to the high-shine finish here. But the core fashion take-home is to keep your staples for next summer – shirts, the trench, silk camisoles – but rework them. Deconstructed classics are key for spring 2018.
#5: Barely There Beauty Makes a Statement
Bella Hadid for Alexander Wang Spring 2018 at New York Fashion Week. Indigital
No bold lipstick or streaks of thick black liner. Wang declared that Spring 2018’s urbanite woman has matte, flawless make-up and fuss-free hair to let the clothes do the talking for her.
