Alexander Wang Fall 2012

Alexander Wang staged a dark and dramatic show tonight at Pier 94, setting the mood for a high-impact show complete with a tricky "runway" configuration, strategically placed mirrors, and our favorite highlight of the night, a surprise appearance from Gisele Bundchen. "I personally think he's a great guy, a great person, and he's always so sincere," said Bundchen. "He asked me and I'm very happy that I was able to be here." The show kicked off with a vast array of structured, lacquered wool coats paired with laser-cut fishnet turtlenecks — pulled over part of the face to look like a mask — and waxed suede manipulated to look like leather. The latter was used to create black- and oxblood-hued military-inspired dresses and sexy front-slit skirts. Then came the fringe, thus far a burgeoning trend on the Fall runways, juxtaposed on crisp collared shirtdresses and tops. The surprise closer of the evening featured top models like Karolina Kurkova and Bundchen facing the mirrors — then peeling off their half-masks. Mystifying? Yes, but there's no confusion when it comes to Wang and his modern way of thinking.

• Trends: Lacquer, laser-cut details, fringe.
• Colors: Black, oxblood, white.
• Key Piece: A cropped hoodie jacket, leather minidress, any of the botanical ombré pieces.
• Accessories: Lacquered and leather knee-high boots, stacked ankle boots, leather gloves, leather duffel bags, small crossbody bags.
• Who Would Wear It: Downtown girls like Alexa Chung, Zoe Kravitz, and Erin Wasson.

>> Alexander Wang presented his Fall 2012 collection to a packed-in house at Pier 94. All the notables were in attendance: Carine Roitfeld, Grace Coddington, Bill Cunningham, Giovanna Battaglia, and Franca Sozzani — just to name a few. Also in the house were notables of a different kind: supermodels Natasha Poly, Karolina Kurkova, Shalom Harlow, Carmen Kass, and Gisele Bundchen — who all walked the show. "He asked me and I'm very happy that I was able to be here," Bundchen told WWD from backstage.

One would think that all this would make for a very exciting, very satisfying runway show. And, it did — at least for those in the audience who could see it. Among those who couldn't? Cathy Horyn. "Each model, along with her outfit, dissolved in the darkness," the New York Times critic said in reference to the poorly lit runway.

But what of the clothing? Well, there was lots of leather. Super-shiny and pitch-black, it appeared on boxy, military-tinged coats, front-slit skirts, and slouchy riding pants. There were also sharp-looking trousers, lacquered tweed jackets, and gauzy, fringe-draped knits. And, for those who love a good Wang boot, this season's were knee-high with buckle straps.