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Can you buy into the American Dream the same way you buy clothes? Alexander Wang wants to know. His latest collection put our national style on blast, mixing the Instagram A-List (Kendall! Kaia! Pete Davidson?!) with knowing nods to hip hop royalty, rodeo cowgirls, and country club cliques.
Here’s the cheat sheet of the show’s top moments and must-score looks. They won’t hit stores for another few months, but what’s more American than wanting what you can’t have?
Kendall Wore a Waist Trainer
Has Kendall Jenner ever looked better? The 23-year-old Scorpio stepped out in an all-white ensemble meant to reference the suffragette movement, with gleaming skin from makeup artist Diane Kendal and a branded cinched waist that was equal parts hip-hop underwear logo and Kardashian waist trainer. It was cool, and so were the white jeans, and you know what? We’ll just wear the whole thing. KJ: Please DM us when you’re done with it.
Everyone Could See the Show
Inclusion in fashion is a touchy subject. (To paraphrase Project Runway, how can something be “in” if something else isn’t “out”?) The Wang show catered to both ends, inviting VIPS (hi, Diplo) downstairs at Rockefeller Center while allowing anyone to watch the show from the giant balconies above. It was a smart way to bring tourists and fashion fans into the fray… though only those invited came face-to-face with the famous models as they posed on an LED runway.
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Pete Davidson Is the Thirst Trap We Deserve
“So Pete Davidson just walked the Wang party,” said our fashion features director Veronique Hyland, “And suddenly… I get the whole Pete Davidson Thing?” Uh, yeah. There’s no explaining the sneak-attack sex appeal of this 25-year-old goofball, though a million think pieces will try. We’ll just say, when Look 23 hit the runway, we involuntarily screamed. (Also, the unisex pants he wore? Fantastic. Now take them off.)
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The Micro Bag Got Rebuffed
Yes, everyone loves a Jacquemus teeny tote. But if you’re actually going somewhere, and you like to pack snacks, Alexander Wang can suggest an alternative: four leather fanny packs seamed together to make one status bag supergroup. It’s like The Avengers… for accessories…
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Flannel Jeans FTW
Until now, the primary source of flannel jeans was LL Bean, and though they’re warm, the fit is a little… limited. Enter Mr. Wang with this sharply-sewn armor for the polar vortex. Combined with Wang’s new puffer-lined blazers, it might just be a new uniform for winter’s darkest days.
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When Calvin Met Alex…
At Coachella, Calvin Klein made custom tees for influencers (like Larsen Thompson, Diana Silvers, and Vale Ambriz, pictured) riffing on their famous CK1 logo from the ’90s. In this collection, Wang does his own homage, morphing the famous Kate Moss logo letters into his AW brand signage. See also: The rad riffs on Ralph Lauren’s American Flag sweater, first seen on ELLE’s 1994 cover with Cindy Crawford, and revived last year on the Spring 2019 runways.
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It Was a Family Thing
Alexander Wang took his runway bow with both his parents onstage, reminding the audience (and 5 million Instagram followers) that fashion is often one big family, at least if we’re lucky. It was a touching reminder that teamwork always makes the American dream work… even if Mr. Davidson is just a one-season deal.
