William Rast Fall 2009
Where & When: Monday, February 16th at 7 p.m., the Tent, Bryant Park
Runway Recap: In a world where celebrity clothing lines are a dime a dozen, Justin Timberlake wants to be Taken Seriously, so three seasons ago, he and partner Trace Ayala joined forces with industry veterans Marcella and Johan Lindeberg (of J. Lindeberg fame); last season was William Rast's New York debut, and tonight was the label's first show in the Bryant Park tents. As you can imagine from a denim-based line, the show was more spectacle than substance, but with its "New America" theme, it should help to distinguish William Rast among the crowded designer-denim market. Yes, there were lots of jeans (mostly skinny, in case you were wondering), with dusty, dirty washes and, I am sorry to say, acid wash making an appearance or two. There were also some nice-looking plaid shirts and fringed leather jackets, but the true showmanship came from studs--they decorated chambray shirts, denim skirts, jackets, you name it. Drawing from both the designers' Tennessee roots and current place of residence (i.e. Hollywood), the collection was--you guessed it--a little bit country, a little bit rock-and-roll. I'm not sure how much of it will actually see the light of day at retail, but word on the street is that William Rast jeans actually fit quite well. Just stay away from the acid wash. Please.
Standout Look: I don't know if I could personally pull off this studded leather jacket, but it was pretty damn cool. And as far as colored jeans go, I found the purplish-gray tone of these skinny jeans actually appealing. (My apologies for the tiny, tiny photo--I was in the very back row of the 1,000-plus capacity tent.)
Bonus Points: Harrison & Shriftman deserve props for managing this beast of a show. There were no check-in lines, they let standing in before I even came out of Terexov (normally standing doesn't get let in until half past the hour), and they managed to start the show by 7:15, ensuring that everyone (well, everyone who was invited, at least) could make it to the Marc Jacobs show at 8. Oh, and should I mention the celebrities? Sure, why not: Paris & Nicky Hilton, Jessica Biel, Emile Hirsch, Coco Rocha, Tyson, Gerard Butler, Becki Newton (Amanda on Ugly Betty), and Miss USA, plus fashion heavyweights Anna Wintour, Carine Roitfeld, and Elle's Joe Zee, Robbie Myers, and Kate Lanphear. And, yes, Timberlake took a bow at the end of the show, so now that I've seen Mr. Sexyback in the flesh, I can die a happy girl.
Where to Buy: Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and online at williamrast.com.