• Intelligencer
  • The Cut
  • Vulture
  • The Strategist
  • Curbed
  • Grub Street
  • Subscribe to the Magazine Give a Gift Subscription Buy Back Issues Current Issue Contents
    Subscribe to New York Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Profile
    Sign Out
The Cut
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
Style
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Shopping
  • Design Hunting
  • New York Weddings
  • Parties & Red Carpet
  • Fashion Shows
  • Cathy Horyn
Self
  • Health & Wellness
  • Motherhood
  • Advice
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Science of Us
  • Horoscopes
  • Ask Polly
Culture
  • Books
  • Television
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Celebrity
Power
  • Politics
  • Work
  • Money
  • Rebecca Traister
More
  • Latest Stories
  • Video
  • About Us
  • The Cut Shop
  • nymag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
parties!
February 10, 2019

Alexander Wang Is the Only One Still Partying

By Emilia Petrarca

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Pin It
Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang

“We threw this party together a week ago because we thought New York Fashion Week needed a little spice,” said designer Alexander Wang with a laugh and a hair toss at about 1:15 a.m. on Saturday night.

One week of planning in Wang’s universe gets you the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center, decorated to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. It gets you free cognac and sponsorship from something literally called Cash App. It gets you musical performances by Tommy Genesis, Trina, and City Girls. (Well, City Girl, singular, since one is currently in jail.) And finally, it gets you a room full of models (like Kaia Gerber), celebrities (like Ansel Elgort), and well-dressed revelers who will do anything — even trek to midtown Manhattan in the cold — for a good time during New York Fashion Week.

Wang was right: Fashion Week is in need of some “spice.” Gone are the days of after-after-after parties with hamburgers and French fries by the truckload. Everyone’s a VIP now. Barcodes have replaced word of mouth. Models just stand there and vape. Cardi B didn’t even come this season.

Wang would know that the fun is missing, since he’s historically provided it. But since he moved off the official Fashion Week calendar, the party scene has fallen flat. Of course, there are other factors at play. It’s simply too expensive for most brands (including Alexander Wang) to throw blowout parties. Doughnut candelabras? In this economy? No can do. New York nightlife also just isn’t what it used to be in general, and that includes the “going-out tops” that kept Alexander Wang in business.

As any seasoned party-goer would tell you, though, these are all petty excuses. Fun is out there if you make it. And thankfully, Wang is still willing to try.

View
1 / 29 Photos
Kaia Gerber. Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Alexander Wang and Ansel Elgort. Photo: Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Tommy Genesis. Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Ian Isiah. Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Joan Smalls. Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Paloma Elsesser. Photo: Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
City Girls. Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Jasmine Sanders. Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
A$AP Ferg. Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Soo Joo Park. Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Alexander Wang. Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Dev Hynes. Photo: Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Photo: Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Photo: Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
Photo: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Alex Wang
1 / 29

Tags:

  • image gallery
  • gallery
  • new york fashion week
  • nyfw fall 2019
  • parties!
  • alexander wang
  • More

More Galleries

in memoriam Dec. 30, 2020
30 Incredible Fashion Moments From Pierre Cardin  Remembering a creative visionary. 
By Andrew Nguyen
rest in power Dec. 23, 2020
A Photo Memorial for an Iconic Model  She passed away suddenly at the age of 50 this week. 
campaign trail Nov. 18, 2020
‘Tis the Season for New Fashion Ads  See the best ones from Gucci, Prada, Versace, and more. 
By Emily Burns
nyfw spring 2021 Oct. 26, 2020
How a Great Collection Comes Alive  Christopher John Rogers launched its first-ever online shop, along with a new campaign. 
By Andrew Nguyen
campaign trail Sept. 24, 2020
See the Fashion Campaigns for Fall 2020  From Prada, Michael Kors, Celine, Louis Vuitton, and more. 
By Andrew Nguyen
nyfw spring 2021 Sept. 22, 2020
See the Coach Spring 2021 Collection  Worn by Megan Thee Stallion, Kate Moss, Cole Sprouse, and more. 
By Andrew Nguyen
fashion Sept. 16, 2020
The Stunning Awkwardness of Face Masks on the Red Carpet  Celebrities tried to make the best of a strange situation at the 2020 Venice Film Festival. 
one word one shot Sept. 15, 2020
72 Designers on Their Spring/Summer Inspirations  Just in time for Fashion Week. 
By the Cut
red carpet Sept. 8, 2020
This Red Carpet Was Totally Surreal  But also amazing. See all the looks at the Venice Film Festival. 
By Emilia Petrarca and Andrew Nguyen
in memoriam Aug. 31, 2020
Remembering Chadwick Boseman on the Red Carpet  His style was bold, risk-taking, and always impeccable. 
the wedding files Aug. 21, 2020
The Design-Minded Couple Who Didn’t Want to Try Too Hard  The bride got a wonderful surprise the morning of her wedding. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files Aug. 14, 2020
A Costa Rica Wedding During the Rainy Season  Thunder roared during the toasts. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files Aug. 7, 2020
A San Francisco Wedding at a Big, Empty Pier  The bride changed into crushed-velvet pants for the disco-infused reception. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files July 31, 2020
An Elopement Among the Lupines in Iceland  The late afternoon was spent snapping photos near waterfalls and black beaches. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files July 24, 2020
A Pennsylvania Potluck for 280 People  “I looked at her for the first time and had this feeling like, You. I know you.” 
By Kaitlin Menza
milan fashion week July 22, 2020
Behind the Scenes at Gucci’s Virtual Show  Instead of models, members of the design team sported the eccentric collection. 
By Andrew Nguyen
the wedding files July 17, 2020
A Dance Party Under Puerto Rican Palm Trees  Bad Bunny blasted and pitorro flowed. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files July 10, 2020
A Zoom Wedding Only Two Digital Creatives Could Produce  The couple coordinated multiple video segments, breakout rooms, and a dance party. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files July 3, 2020
The Anti-Spectacle Wedding That Turned Into a Spectacle  Brooklyn Bridge Park was the site of their first date, proposal, and wedding. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files June 26, 2020
A Night at the Philadelphia Museum of Art  The flowers were specially treated to protect the masterpieces. 
By Kaitlin Menza
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Help
  • We’re Hiring
  • Press
  • Trademark
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Ad Choices
  • Do Not Sell My Info
The Cut is a Vox Media Network. © 2021 Vox Media, LLC. All rights reserved.