Above the Fray: Alexander Wang Hits 54th Street for the Gap Design Editions Launch

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The first notable thing about the Gap Design Editions launch at their 54th Street flagship this morning: It started about an hour early. This was great news if you were one of the people who showed up for the 10:30 event at 9am, but it wasn't necessarily bad for latecomers, either. Although the line stretched down the block, the store was well equipped with backstock of Alexander Wang motorcycle jackets, Vena Cava dresses, and Albertus Swanepoel hats. (They also had all the pants, but we're just going to be honest: The pants don't excite us.)

The second notable thing about the Gap Design Editions launch was that the designers were all there, sitting behind a sort of podium table and greeting fans. Swanepoel has a terrific accent; Lisa Maycock of Vena Cava was wearing an amazing necklace of hammered nails from a flea market in India; and Alexander Wang, bless his heart, was signing jackets and doling out advice about where to go out drinking (we think he said Ludlow Street on the Lower East Side, but then, we were eavesdropping).

As for the clothes, we're impressed with the quality of both the design and the material. All the pants feel soft and durable, and while the Vena Cava dresses are stiff, they're also sturdy—they feel like they'd survive a hundred days in the desert if they had to. Also, the pricing is just slightly gentler than our Gap informant initially let on: $88 for a dress or a jacket, $69.50 for pants, $49.50 for the Alexander Wang shorts, and $39.50 for hats.
· All Gap Design Editions coverage [Racked]