Alexander Wang is the Favourite for Balenciaga
Apparently.
There's been so much movement within the major houses this year, that staying on top of all the rumours surrounding who is going where has become a media obsession. Maybe it's time to take it one step further and turn this guessing game into a betting pool? Someone should really be making bank; and I'm not talking about Bernard Arnault or François-Henri Pinault of LVMH and PPR respectively.
The latest news pertains to Balenciaga and comes via Cathy Horyn at The New York Times, who reports that a "Paris source with knowledge" has named Alexander Wang as the frontrunner to replace Nicolas Ghesquière. Last week French newspaper Le Nouvel Observateur decided it was Christopher Kane, but that rumour was quickly denied by both Balenciaga and Christopher. (Let's hope Le Nouvel Observateur is not Cathy's "source with knowledge".)
If I was a betting woman (full disclosure: I am not), then I'd put my money on Cathy's lead. She's well-connected, rarely gets it wrong, and I kind of like the way she stuck it to Hedi Slimane (who is, by all accounts, a bit of a douche) after his SS 2013 show. No doubt Hedi will get his own back when his Saint Laurent line sells out in stores come February.
Plus Alexander Wang is a solid favourite: he's young but not too young — Nicolas was only 25 when he got the role — and he certainly has the experience and ambition. His first collection, which he launched at the age of 24, sold into over 200 stores. Which basically means he is the Doogie Howser of fashion.
If the honor goes to Alexander then we should probably expect a tougher, more 'urban' aesthetic for Balenciaga and Paris nightlife will become decidedly more exciting. I hear he throws great parties.
Regardless, it looks like we won't have confirmation until next week so in the meantime all we can do is speculate some more and catch up on episodes of Homeland.
Tell us: do you think Wang is worthy?
Alice Cavanagh
