The circus came to town at New York Fashion Week last night...
The circus came to town at New York Fashion Week last night, as Kanye West raised bar last with the launch of his Yeezy season 3 collection. Taking over Madison Square Gardens, the rapper-turned-designer invited some 18,000 people, plus editors, buyers and, of course, the Kardashians, to watch the epic spectacle unfold.
These are all the moments everyone’s talking about…
Weird: Kanye’s introduction speech was SO Kanye
Kicking things off, Kanye made just a little Kanye speech. The fashion track list was, of course, his new album The Life Of Pablo and Kanye was so typically Kanye in introducing his songs. ‘If y’all like any of the songs feel free to dance, move,’ he told the crowd. ‘If y’all like it afterwards feel free to cheer.’ Brilliant.
Wonderful: The most brilliant, diverse model casting
Naomi Campbell led Kanye’s charge of models, which included Alek Wek, Veronica Webb and dozens more. All ages, races and backgrounds were represented and the crowd went wild for Naomi, even chanting her name and making her break Kanye’s rules (see below) to smile.
Weird: The backstage instructions for models No sharp movements, no fast movements no slow movements – we’re so glad that the internet got hold of these.
Wait, what?! Kim Kardashian goes platinum again
Well if you’re gonna wear all white erry-thang… Kim’s pulled her annual fashion week hair trick, channelling Elsa from Frozen with her new ice blonde do. North West will be pleased.
Wonderfully weird: Yeezy and Balmain collaborate
Confirming his status amongst fashion’s heavyweights, Kanye collaborated with Balmain designer (and honourary Kardashian) Olivier Rousteing to create an all-white capsule wardrobe for the family members to wear, floating into the arena together like one large fluffy cloud. ‘The fam all dressed in exclusive Balmain for Yeezy pieces!’ Kim Insta-squealed after the show. ‘Kanye flew to Paris a week ago and @olivier_rousteing made it happen in 5 days!!!’ We bet that was a task and a half for his team...
Quite wonderful: The collection itself
Well, what about the clothes themselves? This was athleisure at its finest – body suits, cargo jackets and track fabrics, polished up with patent leather accessories. By all accounts, up close, it was good, but it was hard for anyone to tell from the stadium stands.
A bit weird: Lamar Odom returned to the spotlight
Kanye personally walked Lamar to his front row seat next to Khloe Kardashian, his first public appearance since he was hospitalised in October 2015.
Wonderful: The scale of the whole thing
This, folks, is what the future of fashion week may well look like. Ticketed, public events, where everyone is invited to get a piece of the action. As other labels debate on how they’re going to handle the changing times, we’ve got to give props to Yeezy for just diving in and doing it.
Click through our gallery to see all of the pictures...