NEW YORK — Between designing for the famed French fashion house Balenciaga and creating a special collection for H&M, Alexander Wang has had an usually busy fall. But I get the feeling the 30-year-old wunderkind designer still gets the most joy out of spending time on his namesake line that started it all.
That seemed to be case at the end of Wang's spiffy spring 2015 show, when he came bounding out onto the runway like a young colt, his shoulder-length hair flapping in the fan-made breeze, with a joyful smile, to receive warm applause from the mix of seasoned fashion pros and admiring hipsters. It's hard to fake exuberance.
Wang's collection features attractive high-tech urban streetwear that's bound to be gobbled up when it appears in stores.
Unlike his fall show, which featured a finale in which all-black pieces turned into bright shades thanks to thermal color-changing technology from the heat of overhead warmers, Wang's spring collection doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles. It just features attractive high-tech urban streetwear that's bound to be gobbled up when it appears in stores.
The collection has a sporty attitude, incorporating perforated fabrics and mesh netting in skirts, jackets, flowing colorblock dresses and even in nifty sandals. All-white made-for-Wimbledon skirts and jackets with green collars provide a fresh riff on tennis togs while body-clinging Nike Flyknit-type fabric is reinterpreted in form-fitting bandage dresses in eye-popping neon shades.
For dressier occasions, terrific high-waisted slim pants, some with contrasting trim at the pockets, look smart. One such pair of satin pants, worn with a white cutaway jacket, offers a chic alternative to the usual gala attire. And for the woman who wants to be a little more daring, Wang offers red-and-gray pleated bra tops that look like high-tech flames licking the upper body.
The shoes also are interesting, with colorful woven flats that are sure to be big sellers and black sandals of techo-fishnet fabric.
Alexander Wang flame-inspired bra top and high-waisted slacks.
Select runway couture and past collection pieces headline Chloe Dao’s 25-Year Anniversary Clean-Out Event.Photo courtesy of Chloe Dao