Photographed by Peter Lindbergh

During a visit to Alexander Wang’s studio earlier this year, everyone’s eyes fell on his sensual, asymmetrical slip dress. It’s soft yet edgy—Wang is a master at this combo—and its subtle, drop-shoulder cape and mid-calf hem give it a very grown-up feel. Wang sampled the dress in pumpkin, but because we saw so many red dresses on the fall runways, we asked him to render it for us in scarlet. Wang was happy to do it (and in two days, to boot), partly because it would be worn by our May cover girl, Reese Witherspoon. “She’s that kind of all-American girl who’s able to laugh at herself, but she’s not precious,” says Alexander Wang. “She has a side that is super-real, and that’s what I love about her.”

In the end, the dress didn’t make the cover, but everyone was won over by its new look—especially Wang, who decided to sell it exclusively on his Web site and in his store. But, perhaps unsurprisingly, the designer imagines it styled slightly differently. “We showed it with a tough shoe,” he says. “If you’re going to do a more naked shoe, maybe throw on a big nylon jacket over it to make it more sporty. I like the idea of mixing it up.” 

2 years ago  |  374 notes

#Vogue#Fashion#Outtake#Alexander Wang#Reese Witherspoon#May

by Emily Holt

Photo: (clockwise from top left) Mario Testino (Proenza Schouler); Sebastian Kim (Alexander Wang); Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW (Marc Jacobs); Mario Testino (Lady Gaga); Norman Jean Roy (Eddie Borgo)

Congratulations to the CFDA Award nominees and honorees, named last night at Diane von Furstenberg’s studio in New York. We’re happy to see so many young designers on the list, especially Prabal Gurung, Eddie Borgo, Proenza Schouler, and Alexander Wang, who were part of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund—not to mention great fashion stalwarts such as The Daily Telegraph’s Hilary Alexander and photographer Arthur Elgort, who will receive the recognition they so duly deserve. As for Lady Gaga, this year’s Fashion Icon, we wait with bated breath for whatever fantastic contraption she’ll choose to wear on the red carpet. How do you top a pod?

Read More

2 years ago  |  122 notes

#Vogue#Fashion#CFDA#Awards#Alexander Wang#Lady Gaga

by Emily Holt

Photographed by Mimi Ritzen Crawford

SEE THE SLIDESHOW

“It’s about poking fun at luxury and decadence and this idea of stereotypical wealth,” said Alexander Wang, walking us through his upcoming fall collection. Wang is playing with elements of that indulgent culture—fur, skiwear, formalwear, loungewear—and mixing and matching them in the clothes and his ever expanding selection of accessories.

“It felt right taking the pretentiousness out of luxury shopping with the opening of our first store,” he said. “We want to give the ultimate shopping experience but still have people feel very comfortable and at ease.”

Ah yes, that other project Wang is working on: his first store, on Grand Street in SoHo, which will be previewed to mainstream press on Wednesday. “In between fittings, I’ve been running over to the store, making sure they put up the wall right,” he said. “My friends always joke that I run on batteries.” Wang is particularly excited about the freedom his own space will bring. “Working with [other] stores, there’s always a certain amount of boundaries and limitations. Now, it’s like we can do whatever we want. We can test out product, we can do special events, the way we play our music, the staff we hire. It’s going to become our own customized experience.”

And starting in summer, that store will be filled with Wang’s take on lifestyles of the rich and (maybe) famous. “One of the starting points was this rich bitch,” he said. “She’s wearing her super satiny pajamas with the big fur coat and the boudoir sandals and then we’re just kind of putting it all together.” Sounds like somebody’s been watching The Real Housewives. He laughs. “No comment.”

2 years ago  |  199 notes

#Vogue#Fashion Week#Preview#Fall 2011#Alexander Wang

SEE THE SLIDESHOW

Over the holidays, while the rest of us were stuck sleeping on airport luggage carousels with visions of snow-free runways dancing in our heads, Alexander Wang partied at the opening of Marquee Nightclub at The Cosmopolitan in Vegas. Frédéric Fekkai and his wife, Shirin von Wulffen, were on the move—spending their time first in Millbrook, New York, and then in St. Martin and St. Barth’s. Vogue.com contributing photographer Hanneli Mustaparta made the pilgrimage to her home country of Norway for a quiet Christmas with the family. And model Elettra Wiedemann and her fiancé, James, stole away together to Mexico. Upon their return, these jet-setters all shared their travel diaries (and the glitz and the glam that goes with them) exclusively with Vogue.com. (Editor’s Note: Clicking through these pics is more visually stimulating and voyeuristically satisfying than trolling your friends’ Facebook shots—and on just another winter’s day, bound to inspire travel fantasies to undertake in the year ahead.)

2 years ago  |  42 notes

#Vogue#Holiday#Travel#Style#Alexander Wang#Hanneli Mustaparta