Rapper Kanye West debuts fashion line in Paris

Rapper Kanye West unveils his first womenswear collection at Paris Fashion Week.

PARIS, FRANCE OCTOBER 2, 2011   KANYE WEST HANDOUT - Rapper Kanye West turned fashion designer on Saturday (October 1) for his first womenswear collection "KW" at Paris Fashion Week.

The "Gold Digger" and "Stronger" hip-hop musician brought models out in an array of sportswear which seemed to be modelled on Monsieur West himself.

The first model, Anja Rubik from Poland wore a lose, black jacket over black leather skirt, with U.S. model Chanel Iman wearing a black top and black leather trousers with fur, although the runway was supposed to be for next spring and summer.

Other heavy material included suede, leather, and high-perforance wear. Details included beading, crystals and applique weighing down the wearer when temperatures are on the rise.
West played on shapes included loose fitting jackets, tops and trousers, to tight fitting such as floor-length skirts and body con (body conscious) dresses.

Several dresses saw necklines dropped to nearly the waist with models' bustiers on show. They also wore gold name plate necklaces, which are synonymous with inner-city youth in U.S. cities. It became widely popular after hit U.S. television show "Sex And The City" showed lead character Carrie Bradshow wearing her nameplate in several episodes.
Colour palettes were mostly neutral in black, white and beige but there were bursts of colour in neon peach, silver and midnight blue.

The collection was made with the help of Louise Wilson, the Course Director at London's prestigious fashion university Central St. Martins, which calls designers Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and John Galliano amongst its graduates. British designer Louise Goldin was also recruited to help West's fashion line.
West has been a regular fixture in the front rows of fashion weeks over the past six years but reaction to the collection has been mixed.

Tim Blanks, Contributing Editor of style.com, called West's collection "a baby Balmain", referring to the coveted French label who's re-energised the house with its rock star looks of glitz, skinny trousers and power shoulders. But he added that it was a "work in progress", while the Fashion Editor for Britain's Daily Telegraph Lisa Armstrong warned the rapper not to quit his day job.

Paris Fashion Week ends on Wednesday (October 5).