The post Adidas Originals by Alexander Wang appeared first on Wonderland.

First things first

With this season marking the 10th anniversary of Alexander Wang, the actual clothes took a backstage to the evening’s more in-your-face facets: a star-studded front row including Kanye West and Lady Gaga; a retrospective film following the designer’s transformation from angel-faced Parsons grad to Balenciaga Creative Director and beyond; and of course, the afterparty to top all afterparties.

The experience

Guests gather in cavernous Pier 94, a dimly lit hall reminiscent of an airplane hangar with stadium-style seating. Thirty minutes after start time, once everyone has been corraled to their seats, the lights flicker. A long LED screen forms a bright-white runway backdrop, then after the passage of the last model, flashes frenetic glimpses of Wang’s bright 10-year tenure. The screen displays Wang’s now-iconic logo, and Wang himself comes running out, just as an enormous gate on one side of the auditorium scrolls upward to reveal a reveller’s paradise: red lights swirling over an array of pole dancers and Hooters waitresses serving buffalo chicken and unlimited drinks.

And the clothes

Following his brief time at Balenciaga – a period marking a shift toward a greater sense of refinement in his eponymous collection – Wang re-asserted himself with clothes that couldn’t have been more Wang. No gimmicks here, just wearable pieces in his signature street-luxe style: a satin bomber jacket, tank dresses with boxing glove laced details, and plenty of bustiers and mesh. All in all, a triumph 10 years in the making.

Words: R.J. Hernández

The post NYFW: Alexander Wang SS16 appeared first on Wonderland.

STRANGERS IN A STUDIO WITH A.P.C.’S JEAN TOUITOU

When a visitor to the A.P.C. studio announced himself as “Kenny,” Jean Touitou had no idea the tidal wave of mayhem he was about to jump into. As we all now know, “Kenny” turned out to be Kanye West, who just recently launched a capsule collection with A.P.C. Luckily for Touitou, he has a particular affinity for West: “I just love the guy, so whatever. He could want a piece to be baggy and skinny at the same time… [but] oh well, you just find a way.”

But all love aside, he has an ominous warning for such industry hoppers as Yeezus Christus: “Fashion killed rock and roll. Fashion killed contemporary art, and turned it vulgar. And if hip-hop artists are not careful it will also kill hip hop.” Noted. [Style.com]

THE ALEXANDER WANG FREE-FOR-ALL

Last weekend, industry folk and Wang fans received a mysterious invitation to an event in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District? Some queued for hours – and their reward? A studio full T by Alexander Wang clothes… for free. Some people walked out with injuries, but everyone left with bags of free clothes. Note to designers: this is how you do a PR stunt. [Fashionista]

INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION CROWNS WINNER

Never heard of it? This annual competition, based in Italy, is one of the most prestigious around — judged by such pros as Nicola Formichetti of Diesel. The biggest award, the Fashion Collection of the Year, went to the Royal College of Art’s Han Chul Lee. By winning, Lee gets 15,000 euros and a return to next years competition to present his new collection. [Fashionista]

ANDY MURRAY AND KIM SEARS FOR BURBERRY?

Heard on the grapevine: the Wimbledon champion and his girlfriend could succeed Sienna Miller and Tom Sturridge as the new faces of Burberry. A source reports: “Andy may not seem like the obvious choice for a fashion campaign, but he has proven he can scrub up incredibly well” – which seems a bit like damning him with faint praise, no? Fingers and tennis elbows crossed. [Daily Mail]

CONTROVERSIAL COVER OF THE WEEK: CLAIRE DANES FOR VOGUE

Some praise the candidness of the interview with the American Vogue cover girl, and the accompanying photo shoot — a glamourous scene-to-scene rendition of Dane’s hit show Homeland (with co-star lover Damian Lewis), shot by Annie Leibovitz. Others see it as a dour representation of Danes and a bad perspective of ageing by Vogue. Since it is Vogue’s annual Ageing issue, we do wonder…  [FashionSpot]

Brought to you by Yeezus: You can try, but you can’t touch this guy.

The post Will Fashion Be The End of Hip Hop? appeared first on Wonderland.

FASHION: MORE DIVERSE THAN EVER?

Maybe. Dior booked more non-white models than ever for its couture show, while DSquared has cast only black male models and Asian women for their AW13 campaign. Meanwhile, Malaika Firth (above) is racking up plaudits for being the first black model to front a Prada campaign since Naomi Campbell in 1994. Steps in the right direction, we feel… [The Fashion Spot]

I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER A WINTOUR WITH ALL THE TOPPINGS

Have you ever harboured a fantasy of literally devouring Anna Wintour, Tom Ford or Beyonce? Now you can. An Glasgow-based pizzeria owner by the name of Domenico Crolla has come up with the magic recipe for fashion pizza: dough base + artfully applied tomato sauce celebrity portraits = MAGIC. He calls it pizza couture. We call it delicious.

JOURDAN DUNN’S BOOBS: TOO BIG FOR DIOR

Dunn recently tweeted that she got cut from Dior‘s couture show because she was too busty. “Ahahahahaha I just for cancelled from Dior because of my boobs!” Later she added: “I’m normally told I’m cancelled because I’m ‘coloured’ so being cancelled because off my boobs is a minor.” Speak truth to power, sister! BTW, this is the cup size Dior approves of.

ALEXANDER WANG’S PSYCHIC TOLD HIM TO DO BALENCIAGA

The designer consulted a psychic before he took the top job at Balenciaga (apparently, it was his “destiny”). There’s some previous form here: Wang’s mother visited a fortune-teller while she was pregnant with him and was told the birth would be fortuitous. As Tinie Tempah once wisely said: “It is written in the stars.” [Vogue]

WEREWOLVES CRASH THE RICK OWENS SHOW

Correction: they’re an Estonian rock band. Meet Winny Puhh, who were handpicked by Rick Owens to soundtrack the show and provided one of the OMG tweetworthy events of Paris (other than the streaker at Dolce & Gabbana). They’re old hats at playing while suspended from the ceiling too – it was part of their Eurovision entry. And no, they didn’t get very far in it. [Buzzfeed]

This post is brought to you by everyone’s favourite Italian foodstuff:

Words: Zing Tsjeng (Follow Zing on Twitter @misszing)

The post Is fashion becoming less white? appeared first on Wonderland.

The announcement of a new accessories collection usually makes us cringe with visions of panda bears and bows glued in twee mockery onto our wallets. The ready to launch No.3 collection by Alexander Wang, however, defies twee notebooks, candlesticks and other personal and household goods. With a colour range of charcoal, gunmetal and gold, the collection is dark but cleanly streamlined. The candleholders are reminiscent of large nut bolts, while the silver metal lanyards are like delicate instruments.

But of course in usual and quirky Alexander Wang style, the collection includes unlikely objects, such as the smooth black boxing gloves, gold-hinged bottle openers, and a jump rope that’s a cut above the playground hemp. For this collection, let your thoughts wander to visions of American Psycho a la Christian Bale performing around the house handiwork — slightly frightening, very alluring, and somehow, incredibly sensual.

The Alexander Wang No.3 collection is available June 2013 and exclusive to Alexander Wang flagship stores and alexanderwang.com

Words: Elise Marraro (follow Elise on Twitter: PardonMe_Lissie)

The post ALEXANDER WANG OBJECTS N°3 Collection appeared first on Wonderland.

In an candid interview with new publication System, the 42-year-old talks about the reasons behind his shock departure from Balenciaga, which saw Alexander Wang ushered in as his replacement.

“I never had a partner, and I ended up feeling too alone,” Ghesquière admits. “I had a marvellous studio and design team who were close to me, but it started becoming a bureaucracy and gradually became more corporate, until it was no longer even linked to fashion.”

“Everything became an asset for the brand, trying to make it ever more corporate – it was all about branding,” he says. “I began to feel as though I was being sucked dry, like they wanted to steal my identity while trying to homogenise things. It just wasn’t fulfilling anymore.”

The designer confesses that he starting feeling alienated and unhappy when the Balenciaga business team failed to predict which catwalk pieces would sell well, instead going straight for the most easily merchandisable product.

“The strongest pieces that we made for the catwalk got ignored by the business people,” Ghesquière says. “They forgot that in order to get to that easily sellable biker jacket, it had to go via a technically mastered piece that had been shown on the catwalk… There was no esteem, interest, or recognition for the research that I’d done.”

Intriguingly, Ghesquière mentions how he’s not the only designer who feels this way. “What’s interesting is how my split from Balenciaga has encouraged people to get in touch with me,” he notes. “They’ve said, ‘Me too, I’m in the same situation. I want to leave too.'”

Hmmmm… Just who would those designers be? Leave your guesses in the comments.

Read the full excerpt from System over at Business of Fashion.

The post Nicolas Ghesquière: Why I Left Balenciaga appeared first on Wonderland.

1. Alexander Wang: The Right to Share

Like the Empire State Building, Alicia Keys, rats the size of domesticated livestock and sky-scraping stilettos, the 30-year-old has become a New York fixture. But as he’s debuting in Paris as the new creative director of Balenciaga, the Big Apple – not accustomed to sharing signature cocktails or its muses – has had to come to terms with its shared custody of Wang. But not to fear, fair Manhattanites! While Wang may split his time between Paris and New York, Paris (and Balenciaga) will still be getting a much-needed dose of 212 attitude.

2. Justin Timberlake: ‘Suit & Tie’ featuring Jay Z

The essentials questions of NYFW usually include who’s who, who’s wearing what, who’s drunk (we’re kidding- everyone’s drunk), and who’s blasting the hit runway anthem. This year, the song of swag lands on shoulders of the ever-dapper Justin Timberlake. After a six-year absence from the charts, JT brought sexy and sophisticated back with his new single ‘Suit & Tie’. It’s cool, it’s hip, and Tom Ford designed the cover album: a perfect package for runway success.

2. Comeback Kid: Kenneth Cole

The epitome of the Upper East Side fashion, Kenneth Cole used to be as regular a NYFW fixture as fur coats and fairy dust on porcelain bidets. So after his last show in 2006, New York Fashion Week seemed to lose some of its lustre – so all eyes will be on Kenneth Cole when the label reappears at NYFW this year. Calling all WASPS…

4. Cara, Cara, Cara

Last season, we were mesmerized by those deep, dark eyebrows and the wild attitude of Cara Delevingne. The model with the stately brows is the ‘It’ girl of the runway, and along with Karlie Kloss and Jourdan Dunn, is proving that a new supermodel posse is emerging. But while her features are arresting (and those eyebrows unmistakable), what separates the 5’8” model from her statuesque companions is clearly her spritely attitude. Watch out for the eyebrows- they’ll be coming to a catwalk near you.

5. Kate Spade’s 20th Anniversary Smackdown

A milestone is always as exciting as it is nostalgic. As Kate Spade celebrates its 20th anniversary, we’ll be relishing its first years of fashion novelty and exclusivity – but this old dog is brimming with new tricks. In honour of the event, Kate Spade is releasing a book, ‘Kate Spade New York: Things We Love’. Plus, expect a luxurious celebration on February 8th to hail future generations of bag-clutching madness.

6. The Bag of NYFW: Proenza Schouler large white PS13 bag, $2,495

There is always ‘the’ bag. You know, that one bag dangling elusively from the shoulders of daring editors and darling socialites; the bag everyone desires, but few successfully possess. At NYFW, that prized pouch of leather is the Proenza Schouler large white bag. The metallic sheen, those geometrically perfected pockets… Expect to see this one everywhere.

7. John Galliano for Oscar De La Renta?

Oscar De La Renta may have recently invited the fallen gallant to his studio, but as of yet, Galliano’s involvement with the fashion house is unknown. Could he be a part of NYFW? While the answers are not yet clear, Galliano is someone to look out for. Luckily, if he does appear, he’ll be easy to spot.

Words: Elise Marraro

The post 7 WONDERS: Things to watch out for at NYFW appeared first on Wonderland.

Most likely to set off metal detectors in airports: Tom Ford
Karlina Caune photographed by Tom Ford.

“I’m sorry, ma’am, I’m going to have to ask you to step aside.”

Most likely to come runner-up in Splash: Hermès
Iselin Steiro photographed by Nathaniel Goldberg.

We’re not the only ones who were disappointed Tom Daley didn’t spend the entire show with his top off, right?

Most likely to sing This Charming Man at karaoke: Saint Laurent Paris
Edie Campbell photographed by Hedi Slimane.

“Ugh, Eye of the Tiger is NOT an indie song.”

Most likely to secretly be a Magic Eye illusion: Louis Vuitton
Janice Alida, Athena Wilson, Bria Condon, Magdalena Jasek, Ji Hye Park, Tian Yi,
Ruby Jean Wilson, and Nastya Kusakina photographed by Steven Meisel.

If you squint hard enough, Ji Hye turns into a giant 3D horse.

Most likely to stare unceasingly into your eyes and call it ‘art’: Givenchy
Marina Abramovic and Mariacarla Boscono photographed by Mert and Marcus.

Seriously, Abramovic, quit with the creepy eyes.

Most likely to be the flaky friend who never wants to go out: Chanel
Stella Tennant and Ondria Hardin photographed by Karl Lagerfeld.

“Soho House again? Um… I’ve got a migraine, babes. You have fun without me.”

Most likely to be the product of helicopter parenting: Burberry
Romeo Beckham, Charlie France and Edie Campbell photographed by Mario Testino.

Victoria on location: “So after this shoot, Romeo, you’re scheduled for flute practice, swimming class, Mandarin lessons and then two hours of interview prep for Eton.”

Most likely to turn up to a family funeral wearing something inappropriate: Dolce & Gabbana
Photographed by Domenico Dolce.

“But this see-through black tulle dress is what Uncle Keith would’ve wanted.”

Most likely to be really into the cover of David Bowie’s new album: Proenza Schouler
Julia Nobis photographed by David Sims.

The resemblance is uncanny.

Most likely to have a Wallpaper subscription: Alexander McQueen
Raquel Zimmermann photographed by David Sims.

“I love lamp.”

Most likely Tilda Swinton fan: Alexander Wang
Malgosia Bela photographed by Steven Klein.

“Watching Orlando changed, like, my whole outlook on gender.”

Most likely to be into #seapunk: Mulberry
Meghan Collison photographed by Tim Walker.

“Let’s get wavvy, guys!”

Most likely to spend way too long in the toilet: Marc by Marc Jacobs
Photographed by Juergen Teller.

“What the hell is he DOING in there? Someone get security.”

Most glamorous Women’s Institute meeting ever: Miu Miu
Bette Franke, Adriana Lima, Doutzen Kroes, and Malgosia Bela photographed by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin.

“Alright ladies, first things first: smash the patriarchy, then we can get mani-pedis.”

Most likely to have Louis Smith as a fitness idol: Kenzo
Ming Xi and Jester White photographed by Jean Paul Goude.

“Rio 2016, here we come!”

Words: Zing Tsjeng

The post 7 Wonders: Spring 2013 fashion campaigns, decoded appeared first on Wonderland.

Who can forget Miranda Priestly’s line in the book-cum-film The Devil Wears Prada, “Florals? For spring? Ground breaking.” Yet, New York Fashion Week in full swing and one of the trends we see are prints, everywhere. More specifically- florals, paisley and op-art. Here we round up the favourite pattern trends of New York designers.

Florals: Despite Priestly’s hesitation with this pattern, it is hard to forsee any respite from it for Spring seasons. After all, what is spring fashion without a little bit of flowers?

Paisley: Not drifting too far from the ever popular floral pattern, paisley was best utilized in colourful bursts on Thakoon’s silk vest and skirt combination, or Suno’s top trimmings.

Op Art: Popularized by artists such as Bridget Riley, op art is perpetually common in fashion patterns. Charlotte Ronson opted to utilize this print in an array of coloured lines whilst Rag and Bone’s blocky pattern gives the most monotonous dresser something to look forward to come sunshine.

The post NYFW Trends: Prints appeared first on Wonderland.

Zoe Kravitz is a Sagittarius to a T, she admits, moments after arriving to meet me at a noisy West Village cafe. “You know, a social butterfly. Flighty and late,” she says a bit hoarse. She apologises, orders a soy Americano and politely requests a fruit and yoghurt plate, despite missing the breakfast menu. I’m not certain if our waiter obliges because Zoe’s a cute, well-mannered 22-year-old, clad in her Village-friendly bohemian best, or because, well, her parents are Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet. 

With scattered hand and forearm tattoos peeking out from underneath her sweater, and a distressed tan trench coat courtesy of her friend Alexander Wang, Kravitz seems more like an arty Parsons student than your archetypal rock star child. We’re soon chatting away about the foxy waiters at our mutual favourite Williamsburg brunch spot and squealing about our life goals of being Patti Smith and inhabiting the Chelsea Hotel circa the 70s. It’s not that I’ve forgotten I’m sitting across from Zoe, last name Kravitz; I just don’t care. 

And that’s how Kravitz wants it. “I’ve developed a pretty good bullshit detector over the years,” she confesses, admitting that her famous last name has always come before her, especially in her high school days. “I think hopefully, most of the time, the more [people] got to know me the less weird it got,” she says. “A few days before school started, the kids were always like, ‘Oh, my God!’ But once I got there, they thought I was pretty cool. Or that I was kind of weird,” she explains with a throaty chuckle. Fiercely independent, Kravitz has lived on her own since 18, and says she’s always done her own thing.

Was it inevitable that she would go into showbiz, given her radder-than-rad parents?
“It kind of happened. It wasn’t planned out,” she says. “High school ended and it was time to choose a career. I had spent all of my time acting and singing, so I gave it a shot.”
OK, so her family background probably didn’t hurt her career, but it’s Kravitz’s raw talent, hard work and legit training that’s taken her from playing dress-up and singing Grease tunes to reluctantly auditioning and nabbing the role of Angel Salvador in the forthcoming, massively-hyped X-Men: First Class. “My agent called and I was like, ‘Can you go in for X-Men today?’ And I was like, ‘No, please. There’s no point.’ Because I just didn’t think I had a shot. I was like, ‘I’m not an X-Men chick.’ I would never picture myself in it,” she says with candor and a tinge of the insecurity you’d expect from a budding actress. “My band [Elevator Fight] had performed the night before and I was hung over.” Nonetheless, she got the role, her first in a mainstream film, for which, by the way, dons “a lot of tight leather, kind of slutty costumes.

What’s next?
Well, tomorrow she’s off to the South by South West festival for a screening of indie-drama Yelling to the Sky, which finds Kravitz in her first leading role as Sweetness, a 17-year-old student from Queens coping with abusive, tumultuous environs alongside Precious star Gabourey Sidibe. “The stories I’m attracted to are a little more on the real side, the interesting side,” explains Kravitz. Those include roles in a slew of indie flicks over the past few years, ranging from a counseling-obsessed teen in The Greatest (with Carey Mulligan and Susan Sarandon) to a schoolgirl whose friend is institutionalised for severe depression in dark comedy It’s Kind of a Funny Story (with Zack Galifianakis).

Where other starlets live for blog-fame, party pics and red carpet moments, Kravitz likes long walks across the Williamsburg Bridge while jamming out on her iPod to her favourite band TV on the Radio. When I bring up her stint as the face of T by Alexander Wang, she says she is definitely not a model, but a friend-being-a-friend. (“I’m the most awkward person in the world in a photo-shoot. “I’m just like ‘Just tell me what to do and I’ll do it!’”) For “shits and giggles,” she plays in Elevator Fight, for which she pens tunes about the apocalypse. “I’m lucky enough that my acting is sustaining my life right now which is great,” she says. But being Zoe Kravitz comes with the perks of her little band booking massive gigs like SXSW and Philadelphia’s Roots Picnic, even before recording a full-length debut (which they’re taking their time completing “for fun”).

Sure, Kravitz is a Kravitz, and as of late, a bonafide indie darling-turned-mainstream-mutant, but her ultimate goal is still simple: “Keep on paying the rent, keep on making films that are interesting.” 

Is she planning a high-profile burnout any time soon?
“I have this weird fantasy of being this crazy lounge singer at some really shitty jazz club when I’m like 65.” She smiles and then says, “And I wanna drink gin and have cat hair all over me.”

Photography: Simon Burstall
Fashion: Anthony Unwin
Words: Alex Catarinella

This article first appeared in Wonderland Issue 26, April/May 2011

The post Zoe Kravitz appeared first on Wonderland.