Alexander Wang

(NEW YORK) At only 23, Alexander Wang's design aesthetic is one of cool, insouciant chic-the same effortless playfulness seen in the Wang devotees dancing in near-Sahara desert-esque conditions at his after-party can be found in the designer's clothes. And this collection was not only Wang's first formal runway show and a collaboration with hallowed heel-er Manolo Blahnik; Wang also utilized the styling skills of catwalk queen Erin Wasson.. Unofficially inspired by the style of quirky young models, or as the designer calls them, models off-duty (M.O.Ds), Wang's designs revealed a lot of leg, albeit in an irreverent, I'm-so-beautiful-but-I-don't-know-it kind of way. Wool shorts and minis, cropped skinny jeans, and distressed denim shorts were the staples of this collection, slouchy cropped wool pants and a loose-fitting black skirt were more reasonable options-for those of us who aren't Iekeline. The cool-model theme was offset by Wang's other inspirations, the movies 9½ Weeks and Working Girl. These influences were not the most obvious combination, but in typical Wang-ian fashion, the designer doesn't like things to be too literal. He made the power dressing with a tougher edge work by matching blazers and easy-fit jackets with baggy shorts and wife-beaters and by using a minimalist palette of grey, white, and metallic silver.