Kanye West Faces Harsh Criticisms After First Fashion Show

The fashion critics were less than impressed with Kanye West's new women's line.

Kanye West showed his first fashion collection on Saturday night in Paris.

As crowds surged outside the ancient 6th arrondissement lycée where his designs were shown, the singer took a stab at Herve Leger’s famous bandaid dress – possibly the most knocked-off item of clothing of all time. In Kanye’s version, the strips are separating dangerously. Mummy, I’m coming undone!

The only thing more painful than witnessing the dress was watching the model pitch down the runway in shoes so ill-fitting that her spike heels were bending at angles. “I feel sorry. Why not take that look out?” asked one cringing magazine editor.

Zippers were unzipped. Snakeskin pants were metallic silver. There was a very large and furry fur backpack. For an arctic Spring/Summer 2012. Necklines plunged so precariously that they seemed a personal shout-out to J-Lo. Heavy beading – including one breastplate of a top – recalled the Flintstones. Strips of crocodile hung without reason from a leather skirt. There were lots and lots of tight leather pants.

I liked the perforated black leather. Yet a vast quantity of luxury materials can’t blind people to a lack of creative marksmanship.

There’s something about fashion design that makes untrained people think they can do it, too.

Never mind the years of study and practice it takes to create Azzedine Alaia or Alexander McQueen, whose designs reveal that a few millimeters of fabric is the difference between excellent and also-ran.

Remember Lindsay Lohan’s design turn at Ungaro, with the pink pasties? She entered the runway with tears running down her cheeks, and was released from the job not long after. Mr. West didn’t receive the standing ovation he seemed to be expecting when he took a bow from the runway. The tepid response was polite.

Still, Lindsay Lohan was there! And the Olsen twins! And it’s Kanye!

Next, Marc Jacobs pitches for the Yankees!

The Look: Herve Leger meets Donald Trump

The Front Row: Anna Wintour, Lindsay Lohan, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.

Jacked from WSJ