Alexander Wang

[tricotineacetat]

What this guy is doing is a copy/paste of how certain hipsters are already dressing and putting that style into a luxe context... it's more 'styling' than actually 'designing' clothes... and really, that method is not much different from what people like Kate Moss or the Olsen twins are doing.

i think it's for a (deep-pocketed) customer that would probably like to dress in a quirky way as, say, Agyness Deyn is doing, but without the necessary intuition to do it by herself... sad!

 

[UrbanROYALTY]

I love this guy's stuff but being in Europe the mark up for the quality of the merchandise is a bit too steep. Same thing with Philip Lim 3.1!

Well you should see what the Euro's Charging in America!!

..... Money Is Expensive.

 

[UrbanROYALTY]

What this guy is doing is a copy/paste of how certain hipsters are already dressing and putting that style into a luxe context... it's more 'styling' than actually 'designing' clothes... and really, that method is not much different from what people like Kate Moss or the Olsen twins are doing.

i think it's for a (deep-pocketed) customer that would probably like to dress in a quirky way as, say, Agyness Deyn is doing, but without the necessary intuition to do it by herself... sad!

Dont we all copy and paste something down the road ourselves?.. Havent you stolen some ones idea? Outfit? etc etc..

to me thats what fashion ends up being.. one person comes up with one thing.. everyone follows and copies.. and tries to better or personalize the item/product.

 

[meowmix]

anyone know anything about his background? apparently he went to my high school at one point and came back one year and visited...dressed as a girl. his stuff bores me though...

 

[UrbanROYALTY]

anyone know anything about his background? apparently he went to my high school at one point and came back one year and visited...dressed as a girl. his stuff bores me though...

what does that have to do with anything???

 

[diorable]

meowmix, he went to my school too :]. Other than that, I don't know much about him beyond what you read in magazines and online.

 

[meowmix]

i didn't believe it when my friend told me that he attended my school for awhile until she pointed out an article in one of those alumni newsletters about him... most of the kids that come out of there end up being computer programmers and engineers and stuff, so it's pretty interesting news.

 

[diorable]

What school do you go to? Is it in San Jose...o_O?

 

[Cicciolina]

What this guy is doing is a copy/paste of how certain hipsters are already dressing and putting that style into a luxe context... it's more 'styling' than actually 'designing' clothes... and really, that method is not much different from what people like Kate Moss or the Olsen twins are doing.

i think it's for a (deep-pocketed) customer that would probably like to dress in a quirky way as, say, Agyness Deyn is doing, but without the necessary intuition to do it by herself... sad!

I do agree that styling plays a HUGE part of his collection, however after trying on some of his pieces, I have to say they are quite well constructed and it has hard to find something similar (right now I'm trying to find one of his skirts in my size, or something similar - impossible!) I do think he is rather overhyped though. I'd say the styling is quirky and very street, but taken apart, as the pieces are quite basic the customer can wear it any which way.

He obviously has very good contacts as well - the Traina sisters et al, Teen Vogue (he interned there or something right?) so that has helped a lot. I think some his items are not bad (like that skirt I want) but yes - slightly overhyped. Sorry.

 

[tricotineacetat]

I think good construction and decidedly luxe fabrics should be a pre-requisite when you play in the upscale price league, otherwise there is no reason why you should be spending the money on something that has the look of something you customized yourself or borrowed from your boyfriend.

I do miss the ability with this guy to take that inspiration elsewhere than what he saw on model-friends or other hip kids... I don't really see what's the personal touch in the mix of what certain 'good friends' in the industry helped to push.

 

[weathergirl]

^good point

 

[leyla m.]

i suppose i am seeing things from a buyer/retailer point of view.
some collections/names are sellable some simply arent, need time or will never take off.
he is one of those i see doing well.
now whether his designs are good, boring, copied, etc is debatable but it works and the overall package he has created is attractive. in the industry that is really all that matters.

 

[Cicciolina]

He works well as a package. I agree combined with the hype, marketing, presentation and styling it makes his brand very enviable and a certain 'It' (I hate this term though...) quality and I suppose you can't criticse him for making the most of his contacts and situation - I'm sure other people wouldn't turn them down if they were in his situation.

As you can see, I'm torn about what I think of him and his label

 

[tricotineacetat]

i suppose i am seeing things from a buyer/retailer point of view.
some collections/names are sellable some simply arent, need time or will never take off.
he is one of those i see doing well.
now whether his designs are good, boring, copied, etc is debatable but it works and the overall package he has created is attractive. in the industry that is really all that matters.

It probably depends on what kind of customer is being addressed at the end of the day... what's a hot seller in one store is not necessarily gonna do equally good in the other... either it is an older/younger customer base being addressed or the market is ready/not ready for certain styles or pricepoints... and then also what kind of brands it is being positioned next to.

I won't deny that his 'style' is fairly easy to understand or adapt for a mainstream fashion follower. It's sportswear/casual clothing, not a demi-couture niche product. If you see it from that perspective I do understand that it is offering a 'vision' that translates easier from runway to an end customer, unlike other designers that need to be toned down from a strong image to a single piece that works taken out of it's context.

 

[leyla m.]

tricotine,
i agree it depends who is targeted. but to me it is very clear who he is trying to target and although his line in particular is not demi couture, it IMO sits very well if not right next to it but not far from it in a store.
i am seeing it from a wider perspective not from a personal one only. ive been buying all kinds of brands for many different markets/customers (be it Oscar de la Renta, Matthew Williamson, Proenza, or Shirin Guild) and always have all departments i buy for in mind and try and see where a certain brand could fit in.
i agree that one "hot" brand might not do as well in one store as in another.
but the big players/retailers no matter which part of the world they are located do in fact all want the same brands season after season and i believe Alexander Wang is aiming to be in the "big" stores.
all i needed to look at is his website, his collection to realise and get a feel for him and i am sure they are very picky which stores they go for.
i would still like to emphasize though that his collections are not genius but the whole package is. 80s are back if you ask me

 

[found]

What this guy is doing is a copy/paste of how certain hipsters are already dressing and putting that style into a luxe context... it's more 'styling' than actually 'designing' clothes... and really, that method is not much different from what people like Kate Moss or the Olsen twins are doing.

I completely agree!

This guy is just HORRIBLE! I was in some of his classes at Parsons - he was obnoxious, pretentious, very very spoiled rich brat with no talent and a cookie cutter flamboyant personality. He is someone who is truly ugly on the inside.

 

[Meg]

I don't think he's copying hipsters though for some reason people seem to zone in on them and always insist people are copying them. why? I don't want to dress like them. I'm not saying what he's producing is anything amazing. But he has been around for quite awhile, several years at least, and just now more people are noticing him. I just get annoyed when anyone is producing basics that people seem to insist that they are copying someone else. of course they are. Gap is producing basics but people don't go round accusing them of copying rick owens. Like i said, i'm not saying he's producing something unique and that will set the fashion world on fire, but nor do i think he's talentless and just copying others.

 

[leyla m.]

meg,
i agree. i am also finding that all this talk about who is copying who is not really relevant. everyone is copying everyone except those who have been there for some time and still are. those, i call them dinosaurs! ... so endangered species of course!
other than that, what this guy does is no different to anyone else who is fairly new on the block. he has a specific idea and contrary to what people say he does have a style... imo at least.
his last show was so distinctive... nothing genius as i mentioned earlier but HIS style. noone did anything like him this season.
he screams new wave; 80s and that is very clear throughout his entire brand/image.
true, i can take out some old baggy gap jeans, roll them up and dig out an old blazer and recreate his SS08 look but one can say that about many collections these days, no?

 

[honeyisle]

Is Erin Wasson his stylist?

 

[PetitLapinVegan]

Alexander Wang | F/W '08

Does anyone know when/where Alexander will be presenting this fashion week?