Change might be in the air for Alexander Wang (who's headed towards his debut collection for Balenciaga in Paris next month), but thankfully some minimalist (/chic/strong) things stayed the same: Diane Kendal’s makeup was the same classically cool, androgynous, and somehow otherworldly 'Wang girl' we know and love—this time enhanced by a steely swath of Nars Single Eye Shadow in Lhasa, from crease to lid, and slicked over with two muted shades of the not-yet-out Eye Paints, to strengthen brows and give the eyelids what Kendal called a “white, hooded effect.” (Sidenote: we're putting our money on Fall '13 being an 'eye' season—we have yet to see any major mouths coming down the runways.)

As for the hair—severe, gelled-back ponytails with cascades of sushbtle ombré color down the back—we're more than a little excited to have another use for our Balmain hair extensions: Guido Palau affixed auburn (“cognac') extensions to every model for a “clone-like effect,” he said. Wang had requested the shade, inspired by last season’s show opener Irina Kravchenko’s henna-treated hair. “[Wang] loved the color of her hair with the clothes; he wanted that pop of color,” Palau noted, explaining that he took sections of the hair, slicked them back with Redken Hardwear Gel (“taking the baby hair and everything away”) to create a low ponytail, and wrapped the extensions around the girls' natural hair, securing the whole thing with pins and Redken 23 Forceful hairspray. “It’s quite futuristic...more of a stylized look, sure. The hair feels more sophisticated now, the way [Wang’s] developing,” Palau said. And it's true: the look was a far cry from the wantonly ruffled “downtown” bed head or the side-braids from seasons past. “It could go back to grunge,” he added. “It’s just about what Alex has designed.” So, does growing up and spreading out—to Balenciaga/Paris — mean he'll be tightening the reigns at home? Guess we'll have to wait and see.

One thing's certain, though: we'll be seeing red (hair color) in the months ahead. And we're not mad about it.

_Photographed by Emily Weiss at The Cunard Building in New York on February 9th, 2013.

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