New York Fashion Week Fall-Winter 2011: Alexander Wang’s chic night crawlers

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With Kanye West and Alicia Keys front row at his show, and a cheering section in back, there’s no doubt that Alexander Wang is New York Fashion Week’s reigning rock star.

On the runway, Wang’s love affair with the masculine/feminine look played out in a more mature and dressed-up way than ever before, using the poncho (of all things) as a starting point.

Wang showed nearly a dozen different ponchos, from a tough-looking black leather and taffeta version (a kind of hybrid poncho-parka), to a soft, touchable style in blush angora and satin (part poncho, part dressing gown). And each one was more covetable than the next.

The ginormous fur coat was remade as an oversized mink boyfriend jacket, worn with sunglasses with a matching mink goggle strap (pimpin’ in a good way), and black silk track pants with satin cummerbund.

In Wang’s hands, Yves Saint Laurent’s classic le smoking style went glam rock, the tux reimagined as a billowy, sheer black poncho shirt with pleated bib, worn with merino trousers; or a black angora sweater cape with amazing-looking blue glitter drainpipe jeans. To finish the look? Sky-high tassel pumps in mirrored metallic leather.

But the sex kitten was also prowling, in a pink crepe satin bias-cut streamer tank dress, worn over wool pants, and stilettos covered in fur and outfitted with mud flaps.

Wang is a very clever guy, and he can take that to the bank. He opens his first boutique this week in New York (at Grand and Mercer in SoHo), and I’m sure there will be many more to come.

-- Booth Moore in New York

Alexander Wang Fall-Winter 2011 runway collection photo gallery