[NEW YORK, NY.] To close out the final day of May, a month dedicated to celebrating the rich culture of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Alexander Wang showcased a 4-part collection that reminded the world of his enculturated upbringing. The day before the show Wang pushed out an Instagram post announcing his 2nd open-to-the-public fashion show. For his caption, Wang declared in all-caps “TOMORROW 8PM. ROCKEFELLER CENTER. ALL ARE WELCOME.” The declaration was accompanied by an image that started at the top with a navy background that gradually faded into a black background at the bottom. It had his company logo and an upside-down American flag with the location, time and date to view his first collection of 2020.
Since the Rockefeller Center is heavy in touristy traffic Wang adapted to his surroundings and branded TF out of the venue. There were sightseers galore, and many were seen taking photos atop the Alexander Wang bike-taxi’s or next to the Alexander Wang nuts4nuts, hotdogs and shaved-ice carts. Which was a brilliant idea because not-so-many people understand fashion, let alone, know who the leading American designers currently are. So when these foreigners return to their homes domestically or internationally, Alexander Wang will be impressed into their memories forever, because of the time they visited New York.
Yes, Wang may have Taiwanese parents yet he’s completely American. The one who inherited the American DNA of being strong and unapologetically proud. The poster boy for immigrants in search of the American dream. And who clothed the American dream for Wang whilst he grew up in New York. It was the heavy-hitters Calvin Klein, Donna Karen and Ralph Lauren – those designers carried him to become who he is currently and Wang saluted to each of their distinguished colours.
The 4-part collection started off with powerful black models that were followed by Asian models. Later, the androgynous-trans models and to complete the collection were the influencer models. Takeaways from the show were the outerwear coats the black models wore that had Alexander Wang embossed boldly on the right-side lapel. That in itself is a major flex that doesn’t compare to the branded price-tag left on for authenticity flex we evolved from a few years ago. The funky revealing hems in the skirts and short-shorts from the ’90s were repurposed and brought back as the trend to expect to see everywhere. The famous tighty-whities on a model with a backwards baseball cap was a nod to Marky-Mark’s Calvin Klein runway persona. A lot of denim, leather, whites and loose-fitted garments were the main messages for how American style is worn and defined in America.
Inherit Love, I AM,
#StyleHeirs.
