Jason Wu Goes for the Gold

Lars Klove for The New York Times Jason Wu fall 2011.

“Baroque American sportswear,” said Jason Wu, backstage after his show.
Mr. Wu was in an ornate mood for fall, which was evident in the elaborate set he had built in a Chelsea gallery. The models walked on a runway made of gilded mirrors, and some of them had gold paint in their hair. It has been a while since designers have gone in for such obvious opulence, and Mr. Wu wasn’t holding back on the extravagance.

Lars Klove for The New York Times Jason Wu fall 2011.

His collection, he said, actually included more than 15 different types of lace, and some were gilded, just like the mirrors. Lace was applied to the sleeves of a charcoal wool flannel coat, as well as to a sweatshirt (the sportswear element), much like Mr. Wu did in his pre-fall collection that was shown to editors last month. Lace mills around the world must be celebrating right now.
The idea, as spelled out in Mr. Wu’s press notes, was inspired by Robert Polidori’s book that documented the restoration of Versailles over a period of 25 years. It was that grand.
As for Mr. Wu, about an hour after the show, he was just eating lunch at Cookshop, a restaurant nearby on 10th Avenue.