Look Back on Alexander Wang’s Greatest Hits at Balenciaga
After two-and-a-half years, Alexander Wang is reported to be leaving Balenciaga this September. While he’s only designed ten collections to date, they’ve been filled with big red-carpet moments, surprise supermodel appearances, and the return of the “It” bag. His fall 2013 debut single-handedly made black-and-white marble the most ubiquitous Instagram background, while his Le Dix Cartable handbag was Wang’s polished, ladylike answer to the City bags of the early ‘00s. Wang has managed to get Daria Werbowy and Gisele Bündchen to return to the runway to close his spring 2014 and fall 2014 shows respectively. And celebrity-wise, he was able to court some of the biggest: Julianne Moore, Carey Mulligan, Lady Gaga, and Kerry Washington were among the many women who consistently wore his designs. Click ahead to take a look back on his greatest hits.
Fall 2013 Wang's debut collection reflected his love of marble, and our Instagrams will never be the same.
Photo: Imaxtree
Fall 2013 He was always very aware of small details like the clasps on a coat or the buckles on a boot and used them to distinguish his minimalis...
Fall 2013 He was always very aware of small details like the clasps on a coat or the buckles on a boot and used them to distinguish his minimalist designs for the house.
Photo: Imaxtree
Fall 2013 Structured, sleek, and ladylike, the Le Dix Cartable was Wang's reserved answer to "It"-bag mania.
Photo: Balenciaga
Fall 2013 He also created elegant jewelry that didn't adhere to any trends.
Photo: Balenciaga
Met Gala 2013 Wang's Balenciaga collection made its Met debut in 2013, where the theme was punk. He dressed Carey Mulligan and Julianne Moore, tw...
Met Gala 2013 Wang's Balenciaga collection made its Met debut in 2013, where the theme was punk. He dressed Carey Mulligan and Julianne Moore, two women who would consistently support his designs for years to come.
Photo: Getty Images
Resort 2014 Between the fancy bucket hats and coiled-wire details, Wang's first resort outing managed to mix his youthful aesthetic with the bran...
Resort 2014 Between the fancy bucket hats and coiled-wire details, Wang's first resort outing managed to mix his youthful aesthetic with the brand's archival designs.
Photo: Imaxtree
Resort 2014 Also in his first resort outings: teeny, tiny crop tops, as worn by Emma Watson.
Photo: Mark Cuthbert/Getty Images
Spring 2014 High waist, crop top: a trend that's still going strong.
Photo: Imaxtree
Spring 2014 At his namesake brand, Wang has been known to attract some big-name models to walk his show. The same extended to Balenciaga, where h...
Spring 2014 At his namesake brand, Wang has been known to attract some big-name models to walk his show. The same extended to Balenciaga, where he got Daria Werbowy to close the spring 2014 show.
Photo: Imaxtree
Spring 2014 Really, could you imagine anyone else but Rooney Mara in this dress?
Photo: Stefania D’Alessandro/Getty Images
Golden Globes 2014 Pregnant Kerry Washington chose to wear Wang's Balenciaga to the Golden Globes. She didn't win, but she did earn rave reviews ...
Golden Globes 2014 Pregnant Kerry Washington chose to wear Wang's Balenciaga to the Golden Globes. She didn't win, but she did earn rave reviews for her elegant pregnancy style.
Photo: Steve Granitz/Getty Images
Fall 2014 Much as he does with his namesake brand, Wang turned the mundane into luxury, like these shopping bags made of crocodile and fur.
Pho...
Fall 2014 Much as he does with his namesake brand, Wang turned the mundane into luxury, like these shopping bags made of crocodile and fur.
Photo: Imaxtree
Fall 2014 How do you top Daria Werbowy closing your show? You get Gisele Bündchen, naturally.
Photo: Imaxtree
Met Gala 2014 The Met Gala theme was white tie in honor of Charles James — not an obvious fit for Balenciaga, but Kristen Wiig wore a sculpt...
Met Gala 2014 The Met Gala theme was white tie in honor of Charles James — not an obvious fit for Balenciaga, but Kristen Wiig wore a sculptural dress-and-pants combo that was a cool departure from the other giant gowns on the red carpet.
Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images
Spring 2015 This collection featured fur-trimmed sunglasses, but it was these delicate dresses that became a red-carpet hit, popping up on e...
Spring 2015 This collection featured fur-trimmed sunglasses, but it was these delicate dresses that became a red-carpet hit, popping up on everyone from Zoë Kravitz to Kerry Washington.
Photo: Imaxtree
Spring 2015 Wang also paid close attention to embellishments and worked to create couturelike finishes.
Photo: Imaxtree
Spring 2015 Naomi Watts was another starlet who favored dresses from this collection, wearing one to the SAG Awards.
Photo: Gregg DeGuire/Getty...
Spring 2015 Naomi Watts was another starlet who favored dresses from this collection, wearing one to the SAG Awards.
Photo: Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images
Spring 2015 If Rihanna's throwing a gala, Kim Kardashian obviously has to choose a mesh gown for the event.
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Fall 2015 The cocoonlike shapes and B brooches reflected Wang's respect of the archives, and Cathy Horyn proclaimed it his best work at Bale...
Fall 2015 The cocoonlike shapes and B brooches reflected Wang's respect of the archives, and Cathy Horyn proclaimed it his best work at Balenciaga yet.
Photo: Imaxtree
Fall 2015 His dresses continued the trend of attention to embellishment.
Photo: Imaxtree
Met Gala 2015 Wang's dates to the Met Gala reflected his love of pop culture. Lady Gaga, who attended his fall 2015 show, showed up in an elabora...
Met Gala 2015 Wang's dates to the Met Gala reflected his love of pop culture. Lady Gaga, who attended his fall 2015 show, showed up in an elaborate cape while Taraji P. Henson opted for an elegant beaded gown. And Carey Mulligan reportedly hid her growing pregnancy under a trapeze silhouette.
Photo: Getty Images
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