In two words: no black. So long associated with downtown darkness, Alexander Wang has lightened up–metaphorically speaking–for spring and is starting with a blank canvas if you will. “Pure” and “optimistic” was how he described his decision to deviate (white chalk was featured prominently on his inspiration board) and, had this show taken place during the July NYC heat wave, would have served as a refreshing antidote to some seriously stifling times. In an about face from fall’s Gordon Gekko attitude of pinstripes and lace, Wang constructed a motif that was, well, unconstructed. A painter smock dress opened the show followed by a procession of rigid carpenter’s jackets and pants. Models, whose hair was molded–literally–by clay masks meant for purifying the skin, paraded out in a procession of white, mint and a peachy terra-cotta that was, to be quite frank, a nice change in direction for a designer that’s become so associated with skinny jeans and zippered motorcycle jackets. As for those first-ever in-house prints–scribble and doodle prints? Charming indeed.
