One part speed-racer, one part hardcore riot grrl, Alexander Wang well and truly nailed a kick-ass Tank Girl vibe with aplomb for Spring/Summer 2012 – and as if that wasn’t enough, the fact that Linda Evangelista was in attendance (and wearing an irresistible future-90s techy anorak) shot this show instantly to highlight of the day category.
Opening to an Afro-tribal techno beat, models in sporty-techy laser-cut mesh utility vests, shorts, skirts, various fatigues and bomber jackets stormed the cavernous Pier 94 space, winding around rectangular mirrored blocks, causing the audience to see double. A wild tangerine polo kicked off the looks, followed immediately by more demure gun-metal hued fare – but the party really got started as a graphic botanical print came out in force, featured on separates and across entire ensembles. Not often has Wang shown a predilection for print, so it was interesting to see such a bold pattern used so consistently – interesting also that his friend, the talented NY designer Joseph Altuzarra, also chose a tropical print, derived from an Hawaiian shirt no less, this season... Perhaps we’re all believers that every day should be a holiday.
The ready-for-anything fatigues soon made way for sleek racing uniform-inspired all-in-ones, the models, appearing as doll-like BMX-bandits, were even clutching bespoke helmuts. Yet another element was seamlessly added to the mix toward the shows close, a series of 90s fetish leather dresses, cleverly crafted with racing arrows along the sleeves and laser-cut detailing across the bodice to neatly segue into the BMX theme. Once again Alexander Wang has reminded us why he is synonymous with New York downtown cool - he has created a whole universe for his clearly defined 'girl', and whether she's effortlessly tackling the urban jungle or racing BMX's, she does it all in killer ensembles without breaking a sweat.
