Wanna be in Wang’s gang? Then you’re gonna have to earn your stripes. And your fishnet vests. And your leather moto jackets. And your low-slung cargo pants. Since Alexander Wang’s entrance onto the scene ten years ago he has repeatedly refashioned, updated and built upon the idea of streetwear as luxury and today’s iterations on tried and tested bad-girl bedrocks were tempting enough for even the most Uptown of Uptowners.
Unlike last season’s all-out aggression, there was a softer edge to Wang’s jail birds: yes, they wore thick silver chains threaded through their ears and bulked up in stiff bomber jackets to give the illusion of a tough exterior, but underneath came grungey deconstructed silk slips or kicky, shrunken flares worn with skinny tops. A decade ago Wang’s aesthetic focused more around bodycon jersey dresses and athletic separates, today the vibe is the same – Downtown girl, looking for a party, always dressed on the right side of casual – but she’s more about the mix’n’match, the art of the layering, the all-clear to add in something, shh, girlish. The overall message may appear to be non-conformist in the traditional sense but don’t be fooled, Wang’s manufacturing is great and it places lesser versions of this ilk in a noticeably lower league.
Kanye was in attendance, hoodie tightly done up around his face. Stepsister in law, Kylie Jenner sat alongside Nicki Minaj, Mary J Blige and Lewis Hamilton as Lady Leshur’s ‘Mad Ting’ blasted through the speaker system. Models stomped until the end when proceedings stepped up another notch with a giant video backdrop featuring a montage of Wang’s greatest hits and moments. With the recent announcement that following a mutual decision his contract at Balenciaga will no be renewed, this felt like a confident refocus for the designer. The amount he has achieved in this short time makes many others look like they’ve been taking things easy – so it’s a fine time to stop and make his own line the main event again. And just in case we ever doubted Alexander’s savvy side, special edition merchandise was indeed on offer at the Pier 94 venue. No wonder this guy continues to fly.
NYFW Front row 2015
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Alexa Chung made her FROW debut of the season at Noon by Noor on Saturday [Getty].
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For Noon by Noor Alexa Chung paired her Adidas trained with for a white mini dress with silver embellished sleeves. [Getty]
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Solange Knowles rocked billowing sleeves at Wes Gordon on Friday [Getty.]
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Kim Kardashian exposed her bump (literally), on the front row at Givenchy in black sheer lace. [Getty]
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Nicki Minaj opted for head to toe leopard print at Givenchy on Friday evening. [Getty]
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Selena Gomez and Brooklyn Beckham at a Polo Ralph Lauren presentation on Friday. [Getty]
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Julia Roberts wore a t shirt with Riccardo Tisci's face on it at Givenchy [Getty].
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Lara Stone shoulder robed a black tuxedo jacket over a black pencil dress at Givenchy. [Getty]
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Jamie King en route to Jason Wu in orange on orange. [Getty]
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Lady Gaga sat with Mary J Blige at Alexander Wang. Yes, that's a cigarette in the mother monster's hand - fag break on the FROW?
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Lady Gaga had a new look (we realise Lady Gaga always has a new look) at Alexander Wang, with a super short rounded fringe with long tumbling extensions.
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Kylie Jenner sat on the front row with her boyfriend Tyga - we can tell you it was quite the stampeed. [Getty]
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Nicki Minaj made her second NYFW FROW-ppearance at Wang. [Getty]
14 of 97Diane von Furstenberg >>
Kate Upton and Malin Ackerman [Rex]
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Julia Restein-Roitfeld [Rex]
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Chiara Ferragni [Rex]
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Kate Upton [Rex]
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Karolina Kurkova [Rex]
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Diane von Furstenberg and grandaughter Talita von Furstenberg [Rex]
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Chiara Ferragni
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Tyga and Kylie Jenner [Rex]
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Alexa Chung [Rex]
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Laverne Cox and Natasha Lyone [Rex]
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Jaime King [Rex]
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Jenna Lyons [Rex]
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Kylie Jenner [Rex]
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Kylie Jenner and Jennifer Hudson [Rex]
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Laverne Cox [Rex]
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Hailee Steinfeld [Rex]
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Hailee Steinfeld and Kylie Jenner [Rex]
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The Weeknd [Rex]
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Danielle Bronstein [Rex]
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Diane von Furstenberg [Rex]
34 of 97Victoria Victoria Beckham >>
David Beckham [Getty]
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David Beckham and Anna Wintour [Getty]
36 of 97Tommy Hilfiger >>
Immy and Suki Waterhouse went FROW at Tommy Hilfiger's beach-themed show in classic TH casual wear.
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Tommy Hilfiger pulled in a young, cool crowd with the Waterhouse sisters and Behati Prinsloo heading up the front row.
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Zosia Mamet and her friend were on-brand at Phillip Lim in their chic, tailored front row get-up.
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Ciara rocked sleek monochrome for her appearance at Public School.
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Kirnan Shipka made a chic case for the trouser skirt at Phillip Lim.
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Hailey Baldwin was flying the flag for monochrome in a leather mini and sharp shirt.
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Joe Jonas has been all over the FROW and his latest stop was Phillip Lim.
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Public School boasted a FROW including Hailey Baldwin, Lewis Hamilton and Justine Skye.
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Alexa Chung looked predictably cool in a fringed white mini on the FROW at Phillip Lim.
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Girl of the moment Zoë Kravitz whispers with Debbie Harry on the front row of the Coach show, sitting alongside Christina Ricci, Mariel Hemingway and Langley Fox [Rex]
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Actresses Kiernan Shipka, left, and Chloë Grace Moretz wear their shirts with floral flare, while Echosmith singer Sydney Sierota sticks to polka dots [Rex]
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The check effect – British DJ and model Harley Viera-Newton wears a black and pink pinafore to the Coach show [Rex]
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Chiara Ferragni – the Italian blogger and designer shows love for the USA with her stars-and-stripes printed boots [Rex]
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Ciara – the 29-year-old singer looks new season-ready in a slightly oversized jumper and snow boots [Rex]
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Zoë Kravitz takes a stand at the Coach SS16 show at New York Fashion Week [Rex]
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Wavy hair, flower print and plum colours complete Chloë Grace Moretz’s chilled-out look at the Coach show [Rex]
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Liya Kebede – The model and actress looks effortlessly chic at the Tory Burch show [Rex]
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(L-R) Liu Wen, Maggie Q and Jessica Alba – Smiling faces all round at the Tory Burch show [Rex]
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Jessica Hart – the Australian model rocks a simple black and denim look at the Tory Burch show [Rex]
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Derek Blasberg & Liu Wen – the fashion writer, left, joins the Victoria’s Secret Angel on Tory Burch’s front row [Rex]
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Derek Blasberg, Liu Wen, Maggie Q, Jessica Alba – keeping their eyes on the catwalk at the Tory Burch show [Rex]
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Drake and Anna Wintour – the rapper shows his support for rumoured girlfriend, Serena Williams, at the unveiling of her signature collection at New York Fashion Week [Rex]
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Solange Knowles shows a splash of colour [Rex]
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Is Pink the New Black? OITNB actress Samira Wiley (centre, in black) is flanked by brightly-dress Malin Åkerman and Solange Knowles at the Milly show [Rex]
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Kourtney Kardashian keeps up with the trends in an Alice + Olivia glittery jumpsuit [Rex]
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Bella In Black – actress Bella Thorne’s thigh high boots are a hit at the Vera Wang show [Rex]
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The New Classics – Bella Thorne, 17, and Kylie Jenner, 18, stick to classic black at the Vera Wang show [Rex]
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Rita Ora & Tyga – the musical pair rock Moschino at the Jeremy Scott SS16 show at New York Fashion Week [Rex]
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(L-R) Bella Thorne, Kylie Jenner, Empire actress Serayah McNeill and Rita Ora on the front row of Vera Wang fashion show [Rex]
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Jamie Chung – The reality star-turned-actress goes for monochrome at the Alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet presentation [Rex]
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Here come the girls – businesswoman Iris Apfel, centre, and fashion bloggers, the Beckerman twins, at the Jeremy Scott show [Rex]
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Christina Hendricks gave a cosy take on the floral trend front row at Naeem Kahn. [Rex]
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Ashley Green had a Studio 54 makeover for the FROW in statement metallic stripe flares and a sleek navy blouse. [Rex]
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Naomi Watts and Olivia Wilde flew the flag for 60s style shifts in their collared minis, front row at Michael Kors.
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Poppy Delevingne wore her gorgeous velvet dress with hairstyle of the moment: the hun. [Rex]
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Anna Sophia Robb looked cocktail party-ready in this stunning strappy Marchesa dress.
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Jennifer Hudson and fiance David Otunga looked at Marchesa.
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We're smitten with Chiara Ferragni's mega plait. Perfectly paired by the Italian fashionista with a leather 60s-style mini and suede booties.
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Michael Kors pulled in one of the most star-studded FROWs so far, including fashion It-girls Amber Le Bon, Leigh Lezark and Poppy Delevingne. [Rex]
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Bella Thorne looked pretty smitten with boyfriend Greg Sullkin at Marchesa. [Rex]
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Does FROWs come any prettier than Marchesa's? [Rex]
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Supermodel Helena Christensen posed at Paul Anderson's SS16 presentation. She checked the metallics trend paring a pretty silver velvet dress and bunny clutch bag.
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Jaden Smith stepped out with gorgeous girlfriend Sarah Snyder at the Gypsy Sport Fashion Show. [Rex]
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And the pair weren't shy of a PDA on the front row. [Rex]
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Kanye West's surprise show may have stressed out some Fashion Eds with its last minute addition to the NYFW lineup, but the Kardashian-Jenner clan managed to turn out in force to support him. [Getty]
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North West joined her mum Kim and first lady of fashion, Anna Wintour, on the FROW. [Getty]
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Lorde and Drake struck a pose backstage at Kanye's surprise show. [Getty]
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The Kardashian sisters got cosy with designer Riccardo Tisci... North West meanwhile looked a little over being at her dad's show. [Getty]
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Kendall Jenner was sitting pretty beside singer Miguel at the Yeezy show. [Getty]
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Kendall Jenner played doting auntie to North West backstage. Aww! [Getty]
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86 of 97Boss
Lupita N'yongo did modern ladylike glamour in this a textured lace mini and silver heels at Boss. We're big fans of her ribbon-detail 'do. [Rex]
87 of 97Calvin Klein
Julia Rostein-Roitfeld summed up the Calvin Klein aesthetic in her sleek and simple all-black look. [Rex]
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Kendall Jenner is a veritable fashion whirlwind - zipping from catwalk to front row. How gorgeous does she look in this cutout mini? [Rex]
89 of 97Ralph Lauren
Italian blogger Chiara Ferragni worked the trend for the over-the-knee boots trend at Ralph Lauren's SS16 show, pairing them with a cute polks dot blouse and mini skirt. FROW pal Eva Chen looked chic in monochrome. [Rex]
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Flame-haired stars Julianne Moore and Jessica Chastain looked sleek as can be in their Calvin Klein Collection midi and jumpsuit respectively. [Rex]
91 of 97Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs doesn't do things by halves, so his theatre-themed show came complete with showtime snacks. Looks like Chiara Ferragni enjoyed hers. [Rex]
92 of 97Marc Jacobs
Stunning! Dianna Agron flew the flag for florals in a poppy print 50s gown. [Rex]
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Sofia Coppola worked her signature tailored style at Marc Jacobs. [Rex]
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Imogen Poots did a twirl on her way into Marc Jacobs to show off her cute MJ clutch. [Rex]
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Debbie Harry showed off Marc Jacob's theatre-themed show notes.[Rex]
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Brie Larson looked chic in a leather mini as she made her arrival at Calvin Klein. [Rex]
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Atlanta de Cadenet Taylor and Harley Viera-Newton looked sleek and sophisticated on the front row at Calvin Klein, with Harley giving a nod to the 60s in her nude shift and killer platform heels. [Rex]