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In an effort to make reading Racked NY as much like being in the tents as humanly possible, we'll be liveblogging the shows all week, from the suspense of waiting in line (will the seats be any good?) to the drama of the runway (will anyone stumble?) to the post-show euphoria. This time around: Sporty looks and lasers (!) at Y-3.
Show location: The Park Avenue Armory on the Upper East Side
The skinny: Adidas loves to go all out on their line from the legendary Yohji Yamamoto, with big productions as runway shows and a collection full of black with pops of saturated color and shoes that keep the international trendsetters drooling.
Celebs spotted: Ciara, designer Jeremy Scott, Alison Brie from Mad Men/Community, Justin Theroux, Russell Simmons' son Diggy, model Coco Rocha, Bryanboy and Tavi.
The takeaway: Y-3 excels at their fall/winter lines, because Yohji can return to his signature roomy capes and long black coats, with draped wool and other heavy fabrics to add volume and interest to a mostly black color scheme. But there's nothing wrong with that, since the whole scene was significantly jazzed up by a runway bordered by friggin' lasers and models strutting with show-stopping shoes like striped wedge heels, modern sneaker-spectators and striking silver high-tops. And Yohij's solution for when you wear a skirt with low shoes during winter? Legwarmers!
The Y-3 show, which is both mens and womenswear, is typically quite lengthy, so to keep our attention they dimmed the lights halfway through and a team of models sprinted up down and back up the runway for no apparent reason, before the show resumed. And then, before the official finale, a laser circle appeared at the end of the runway into which Yohji himself stepped, who then simulated some self-defense moves on a male model (Yohji won) and Freja Beha Erichsen (Freja won). It was a high energy show for an electric collection; even Jeremy Scott was nodding.
The Liveblog:
5:15pm: Okay, I'm seated. It's foggy but not too foggy. Buzz is that Yohji Yamamoto is definitely here.
5:18pm: They are bringing out the Z-list celebs I don't know. And they cranked up the fog again. Will we be able to see the show through this?
5:21pm: Diggy Simmons, son of Russell, is here in a letterman jacket.
5:25pm: Tavi's here, naturally.
5:26pm: Breaking: Bryanboy and Tavi just hugged.
5:27pm: Alison Brie from Mad Men and Community, who might well be this year's version of the Ubiquitous Fashion Week Starlet (UFWS for short), just showed up in a grey and black Herve Leger dress.
5:29pm: Ciara is here in a very high ponytail, hanging out with Jeremy Scott, who is wearing a tiny hat of gold braiding.
5:32pm: It's starting!
5:33pm: Wait, where did the fog go?
5:34pm: Lights down. Bring on the lasers!
5:35pm: And here they are! The lasers are making transparent walls on either side of the runway.
5:38pm: It's starting. The first looks include black peacoats and knee socks that look like legwarmers. Tons of navy and black.
5:39pm: Striped wedge heels!
5:40pm: I'm seeing one single giant suspender on a few guys.
5:41pm: Black and white stripes, fuchsia shoes. Whoa: Burglar masks!
5:43pm: Masks gone, now some color. Sweaters with bands of dark green, blue, mauve.
5:44pm: Bunch of models just sprinted down the runway and back, real fast with shirts that said "Y-3 Dash."
5:45pm: Now dressier items, like white button-downs. The music is Simon & Garfunkel: "Scarborough Fair."
5:46pm Black and white is back. Lots of gathering in the back and heavy fabric.
5:46pm: Lots of capes on both men and women. One guy has a leather strap over his eyes.
5:48pm: Shiny silver leather shoes with purple and red panels in heels and high-tops!
5:49pm: Now the Simon and Garfunkel is mixed with dance music.
5:52pm: They're handing a few roses to random women in the audience because it's Valentine's Day. Cheesy, but there was "Aww" coming from the audience.
5:54pm: Finale! Yohji Yamamoto just practiced self defense in a laser circle, taking down a male model but beat by Freja Beha Erichsen. Of course.