Alexander Wang Fall 2014: A hot new fabric--literally
The Alexander Wang Fall 2014 collection is modeled during Fashion Week in New York on Feb. 8, 2014. Credit: AP
The inspiration: Light, heat and the transformative nature of clothing seemed on the brain. And Alexander Wang's invitation to the fashion show was our first clue. The rectangular card was black on front, with a seat assignment printed on back…along with a message in teeny print: “Touch to reveal front.” Press your hand down on the front of the card and writing materialized out of the black, as if by magic (more likely a chemical reaction triggered by the heat of your hand). Think disappearing ink, but in reverse. The writing confirmed what Wang had announced several weeks earlier--that his show would not be held in Manhattan, but at the Duggal Greenhouse, a massive structure at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
The vibe: High-tech and functional. Boxy utilitarian jackets boasted an array of cargo pockets and loops to hold pens or tools. Handbags resembled canteens. And some over-the-knee boots looked like shields.
The lust-o-meter: A grouping of satiny jackets with a mountain range print gracing the hem seemed the most accessible. Figure-skimming dresses with large zippers and racing stripes down the sleeves had a youthful appeal. But most intriguing were the…well, we can only think to call them “bootie mules”—they looked like boots in front, mules in back. Imagine, shoe lovers—an entirely new form of footwear!!
What the…? Wang’s finale featured models wearing what appeared to be black, rubber-like jackets and skirts with a dark paisley print. The models stood stock still, as the round runway began to slowly revolve, and as it turned the fabric slowly changed color before our eyes, transforming into a rainbow of neon hues—again, presumably due to the warmth of the lights. The effect seemed…literally…electric. Has Wang offered us a vision of the future—where one outfit literally can take us from day (vivid when warmed by the sun) to night (more muted, darker, sophisticated by the cool of moonlight)? Wait and see.
Our take: We’re buying stock whenever his company goes public.
