Photo: Randy Brooke/Getty Images
To cause a stir or not to cause a stir? That is the question. Actually in the case of “Kanye West takes New York Fashion Week”, it’s not a question. It’s a simple fact. Just a few days ago, Kanye made a semi-surprising announcement that he would be presenting Yeezy Season 2, the Kanye West X Adidas Originals Collection. This last minute addition to the NYFW calendar came as a surprise to designers like Anne Bowen who had been scheduled to show Wednesday at noon, which just so happened to be the exact same time Kanye decided to host a gaggle of celebrities and fashion’s most influential people at his show. Bowen and her team made the decision to reschedule their show while Naeem Khan, who was also scheduled to show during the noon time slot, did not. So, now that the industry was all abuzz, what would Kanye send down the runway?
The show began with models marching in wearing nude outfits and sporting bleached hair. If you weren’t a fan of season one’s collection, you may not fancy season two either but there’s one thing that rings true, he’s consistent. Filled with muted colors, disheveled layers and a mixture of second-skin fitted pieces draped in oversized jackets and hoodies, the feel of this season easily mimics the previous…but on steroids. Models, including an almost unrecognizable Kylie Jenner and Ian Connor (who, no lie, smoked a cigarette on the runway) were a mini-Kanye army dressed in military inspired looks including loose fitting pants, caps and high tops.
Many of the famous faces in the crowd that came out to support Kanye were of course, Kim Kardashian-West, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Anna Wintour, Riccardo Tisci, Common, and Michael Strahan – all seated front row. Other attendees included Andre Leon Talley, Seth Meyers, Drake, Jaden Smith and Lorde. If you weren’t fortunate enough to receive the golden ticket, which was actually a printed camo tee serving as the invitation, check out the many Twitter and Instagram pages of those who were. You can almost feel the excitement in each post. Oh and just for good measure (and to be sure no one forgets that Kanye is a rapper-turned-designer-turned-rapper), he also debuted a new song on the runway called “I Feel It,” featuring Post Malone and Ty Dolla $ign.
Whatever your thoughts about Kanye and this season’s collection, there’s one thing that cannot be denied – he clearly doesn’t lack confidence and he definitely knows how to shake things up.
Backstage At Yeezy Season 2
Yeezy Season 2 - Backstage
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Yeezy Season 2 - Backstage
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 16: Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West attend Kanye West Yeezy Season 2 during New York Fashion Week at Skylight Modern on September 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Kanye West Yeezy)
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Yeezy Season 2 - Backstage
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 16: Khloe Kardashian, North West, Kim Kardashian West, Kendall Jenner and Kourtney Kardashian attend Kanye West Yeezy Season 2 during New York Fashion Week at Skylight Modern on September 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Kanye West Yeezy)
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Yeezy Season 2 - Backstage
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 16: Courtney Love, Riccardo Tisci and Debbie Harry attend Kanye West Yeezy Season 2 during New York Fashion Week at Skylight Modern on September 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Kanye West Yeezy)
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Yeezy Season 2 - Backstage
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 16: Lorde and Drake attend Kanye West Yeezy Season 2 during New York Fashion Week at Skylight Modern on September 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Kanye West Yeezy)
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Yeezy Season 2 - Backstage
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 16: Courtney Love, Michael Stipe and Helena Christensen attend Kanye West Yeezy Season 2 during New York Fashion Week at Skylight Modern on September 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Kanye West Yeezy)
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Yeezy Season 2 - Backstage
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 16: Michael Strahan and Tyga attend Kanye West Yeezy Season 2 during New York Fashion Week at Skylight Modern on September 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Kanye West Yeezy)
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Yeezy Season 2 - Backstage
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 16: Kanye West and Jaden Smith attend Kanye West Yeezy Season 2 during New York Fashion Week at Skylight Modern on September 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Kanye West Yeezy)
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Yeezy Season 2 - Backstage
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 16: Fabolous, 2 Chainz, Kanye West and Vic Mensa attend Kanye West Yeezy Season 2 during New York Fashion Week at Skylight Modern on September 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Kanye West Yeezy)