Thursday morning, I think I hit the “Try Again” button 50 times during my morning class.
“Try Again” to reload the page that would take you to the new Alexander Wang collection at H&M. Released online at 10 a.m., the collection was sold out in hours. Sold out, before I even could get the page to load.
When I did arrive at the website, I was bombarded with black and grey, leather and spandex and of course the iconic WANG billboard-like name plastered on the items. Heavy jackets, booties, beanies, leggings, crop-top-sports-bras, backpacks and gloves filled the pages. It is the typical sporty and edgy Wang style. Despite the collaboration, Wang stays true to his aesthetic.
Via: Self
In April, before the start of an H&M-and-Wang-sponsored concert at Cochella, the collaboration was revealed. H&M creative advisor Margareta van den Bosch told Vogue they had chosen to work with Wang because they had never really had a “sport collection.”
“I think he really brought sport into fashion,” Van de Bosch said.
After the Cochella announcement, Wang also posted a video on Instagram, displaying a countdown to today, according to Elle. On November 6, the world would be able to purchase some “affordable Wang,” Elle said.
Well, that of course depends on your definition of affordable.
The line is somewhere close in price to that of T by Alexander Wang, a less expensive version of Wang that can be picked up at department stores, like Nordstrom. “T” is to Wang as Madden Girl is to Steve Madden. This, however, does not mean Alexander Wang x H&M is cheap. It’s actually quite the contrary.
Let’s compare.
Exhibit A: One black fitted dress at H&M, made from polyester, rayon and spandex, even including a cutout in the back.
Via: H&M
Exhibit B: One black fitted dress by Wang at H&M, made from polyester and spandex, WANG detailing around the middle.
Via: H&M
Each will cost you $34.95 and the other $79.95, respectively.
We have certainly seen this before. When Phillip Lim collaborated with Target, the prices were more than double that of the department stores usual, but was still a relative success. Conversely, Neman Marcus for Target, was a complete failure, according to Bustle.
What does that mean for H&M then? Is it a Lim or a Marcus?
My prediction? It will be a Lim. After selling out, items from the collection began popping up on other sites. In fact, brandchannel.com reported items for up $2,000 being sold on eBay already. The demand for more WANG is already high.
Too bad there isn’t an H&M here in Gainesville.
Feature photo courtesy of: Whitney Valerie
