Our fashion news director Eric Wilson spoke with Balenciaga creative director Alexander Wang about his work at the prestigious French atelier. For more on Wang and the stars who wear his looks on the red carpet, pick up a copy of the March InStyle, on newsstand’s now.
Eric Wilson: Which qualities best describe the women you have dressed in Balenciaga?
Alexander Wang: I was thinking about it the other day. Whether it’s Rooney Mara, Julianne Moore, or Kristen Wiig, you really know them from their work. They are completely risk-taking in their roles, but you don’t really read about their private lives. I think there’s something so strong about that. It is interesting to collaborate with these women who are so understated.
EW: What it that moment like when you first them in your dresses?
AW: At my own brand, I always said the most exciting thing was spotting people on the street wearing my clothes. At Balenciaga, the same thing translates to the red carpet. These women have racks and racks of clothes, and they can go to any designer, so to know that they’ve chosen to work with us — it just feels really nice. Also that moment is something that will be documented. to have that be a part of your memory bank is important.
PHOTO: Julianne Moore wears Balenciaga to the Hollywood Film Awards
EW: They become signposts in our cultural history. They tell stories. How is Balenciaga different from your own label?
AW: They start off in two very different places, but in the middle is always me.
With my brand I was able to express myself completely when I started. Since I was going to another house it was important for me to keep in mind the name on the door and to respect the founder. It’s helped me discover who I am as a designer and made me more confident with what I do here in New York and what I am meant to do at Balenciaga in Paris.EW: How do you craft looks for young actresses?
AW: I’ve always loved working with up-and-coming musicians and actresses. When I made a gown for a blockbuster-movie star like Nicola Peltz from Transformers, I had to think about what was going to translate for the audience and the house. We did that cobalt blue micro-sequin dress, but with that little bustle in the back. It was just a bit of a twist witout being too over-powering or too conceptual.
RELATED: Eric’s Wilson’s Review of Alexander’s Wang’s Fall 2015 Show from NYFW
EW: Those actors understand the power of fashion to establish an identity too.
AW: Definitely. You may not necessarily know who they are at first, but if they are choosing the right stylist and the right roles, you know the path they will take even before they have bloomed.
EW: Conversely, how do you use the red carpet to shape the image of Balenciaga?
AW: It’s an important area we always have to think about. The statement we try to make should not feel too remote or too alienated from what we do on the a regular basis. With dresses that are so fantastical, when we’re putting them out there for all the world to see, certain parts of the DNA and vocabulary should be understood. I’m always thinking about the grandeur, the bigness of the message, and then how to scale it down into a handbag, a shoe, an evening clutch, or whatever it may be.
EW: What have you been most excited to do at Balenciaga?
AW: Something very different from what I already do in terms of price and the level of craftsmanship. And to be able to work with the atelier. One of the women there actually used to work with [founder] Cristóbal, and she was teaching me how to tie a bow. That was really incredible.
PHOTOS: See all our favorite looks from Balenciaga’s Fall 2015 Show at Paris Fashion Week