Brandon Maxwell Launches Men’s, Alexander Wang: King of Fashion Week Parties

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Brandon Maxwell Launches Menswear
Brandon Maxwell’s Brooklyn show did not disappoint. In addition to supermodels showcasing a more relaxed take of the designer’s vision, fans also got a major surprise when menswear appeared on the runway. “I want to touch as many people as I can,” he explained backstage. “I made a piece for my fiancé who wore it tonight.”

Maxwell also explained that he was in a dark place during his last show. But those feelings wound up leading to an epiphany. “What happened during that dark period was that my friends really revealed themselves to me and I realized, What am I scared of?… I looked around at my life and realized these people are there for me. Fashion is not about luxury and money, it’s about feeling good about yourself. The number one thing you need to feel good about is love. It’s always about the love that is exchanged in a place.”

Alexander Wang Still Throws the Best Fashion Week Party
Sure, Alexander Wang now presents his collection in the off-season. But make no mistake, he still rules the NYFW party scene. Last night, the designer and Bvlgari threw a massive bash at 712 Fifth Ave in honor of their new handbag collaboration.

Wang took cues from the ’80s Kim Cattrall film Mannequin and transformed the iconic shop into a fantasy of a department store after-hours. The bar was fragrance-department themed, with drinks being served in perfume bottles. In a similar vein, a riff on the beauty counter instead handed out soft-serve ice cream. There was also a station where guests could get Wang-themed nail art (I opted for a smiley-face similar to the one that appeared in his collection last February).

Guests — including Offset, Tiffany Haddish, Soo Joo Park, Halima Aden, Dylan McDermott, Hanne Gaby Odiele, and campaign star Hailey Beiber — also enjoyed performances by Rick Ross and Normani, as well as DJ sets by Asmara and Pedro. All the while they got to see the collection up-close, as displayed on freakishly realistic-looking mannequins. Obviously, they were a nod to Mannequin, but there was also a surreal Guy Bourdin-vibe to them.

Christian Siriano’s Runway Featured Live Art
Christian Siriano told us he would his collection would be inspired by pop-art, but we didn’t expect him to put an actual artist on the runway! The set was not only decorated with giant Ashley Longshore paintings, but the artist herself was on hand putting finishing touches on the pieces. “Ashley Longshore’s whimsical and playful use of color and texture help inspire the fabrication this season,” Siriano explained. “Her women empowerment statements also inspire the silhouettes in the collection to celebrate the body and the women wearing them.”

The designer’s bright collection also took notes from the work of Jeff Koons’ Easyfun-Ethereal series. A major highlight was a twist on the lip-print — a hallmark of the merger between art and fashion as far back as Elsa Schiaparelli — which was turned into a textile. “I wanted it to be part art surrealism wit the eyes and the lips drooping,” he said backstage. “I wanted it to be an artist inspired collection and a mix of the cultures.”

The front row was filled with Siriano’s celebrity fans, including Ashley Graham, Lucy Liu, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Alicia Silverstone. Also there, attending her first-ever fashion show, was Jennifer Coolidge. “I was on a show for a long time and the week we were filming always conflicted with fashion week,” she told The Daily. “I’m such a fan of Christian and I really wanted to come to this… He really knows how to make a woman feel feminine. I’m attracted to that and he’s such a nice person. He’s so talented and so humble. You could tell he was a really cool person. There wasn’t outfit that I didn’t like or want for myself.”

Ashley Longshore and Christian Siriano (Luca Zanoni)

Alan and Sebastian Faena Held a Chic Private Party During Fashion Week
On Thursday, Alan Faena held a NYFW bash at his private residence in New York. The event, which was co-hosted by Sebastian Faena, featured cocktails, champagne, oysters, and an Italian buffet. A number of fashion insiders — including Kaia Gerber, Lourdes Leon, Camilla Morrone, Helena Christensen, Asia Chow, Maria Borges, Jordan Barrett, Stella Maxwell, and Amber Valletta, among others — dropped by and helped turn the evening into a full-on dance party.

Alan Faena (second from right) and guests (Courtesy)

Welcome to The Face Apartment
Iconic magazine The Face recently relaunched. To celebrate its grand return, the publication is running parties and events all throughout NYFW at The Face Apartment at Overthrow Boxing. The Face Apartment is open now until September 26 at 9 Bleecker Street in Manhattan. It will have a closing party on the 27th. Check out a list of upcoming events below.

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