At his Fall presentation, Wes Gordon was continually encircled by a crush of fans chorusing "amazing" and "obsessed." A security guard at the venue gestured at the young designer and remarked, "That s probably what Justin Bieber feels like all the time." Gordon has quickly made a name for himself in the industry, and recently tied for the Fashion Group International s Rising Star Award. But he s far from complacent, and is continually setting the bar higher. This season was Gordon s largest yet.
"It s darker, grander, and more romantic, with a more disheveled elegance than in the past," he said, going on to reference Rooney Mara and Charles Dickens heroines as inspirations. Looks including a chain-mail tank paired with a belle-of-the-ball saffron cutaway skirt and a majestic Edwardian cashmere coat brought to mind a modern fairy tale, while duchesse satin T-shirts and brocade flared pants kept things youthful and effectively grounded the collection. You re not about to see Gordon s luxe clothing on every downtown hipster—these pieces are better suited for special occasions and regular gala goers like Olivia Chantecaille, who stopped by today to show her support. But it s refreshing nonetheless to see a 25-year-old up-and-comer who keeps the fantasy in fashion, and doesn t necessarily want to be the next Alex Wang.
