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Alexander Wang tackles the sporty chic trend

The sporty chic theme present at New York Fashion Week became a bona fide trend at the Alexander Wang show Saturday.
/ Source: The Associated Press

The sporty chic theme present at New York Fashion Week became a bona fide trend at the Alexander Wang show Saturday.

Wang's spring collection was full of technical fabrics, oversized pockets, exposed zippers, mesh and sharp laser-cut details. He also included lots of layers that mixed many textures, but nothing seemed too heavy for the season.

There were miniskirts and walking shorts, cargo vests and track jackets. There were flashes of neon peeking out from under sheer, optical white. He opened with the tangerine hue that color company Pantone says is one of the top shades of the season, and closed with the bright purple that seems like another must-have.

"We've already seen Alex's influence on the runways in New York and we're only three days in," said Kristina O'Neill, Harper's Bazaar executive editor. "There are anoraks, pops of neon and parachute fabrics everywhere. It was great to see him take his sporty references to the next level."

She noted references to track and field, auto racing, BMX and football jerseys. Some models carried a golf-bag "weekender" over their shoulder.

Wang doesn't do fancy evening clothes, and it's not missed. His youthful customers come to him for cutting-edge casual. As a designer, he's increasingly a bellwether for what's to come. His runway show attracts all the top editors, retailers and stylists — and celebrities, including Alicia Keys, Courtney Love and Lea Michele this season.

And, it doesn't hurt that he is personal friends with many top models: Frankie Rayder, Liya Kebede and Hilary Rhoda — they make few catwalk appearances these days — were present and accounted for at the industrial Pier 94 venue along the Hudson River.

Linda Evangelista was in the front row.