German-born designer Phillipp Plein showed his second runway during New York Fashion Week yesterday (September 9, 2017), an event held at Hammerstein ballroom that has garnered a ton of press in part because the event included runway performances by Future and Teyana Taylor and at the after-party, Nicki Minaj, Yo Gotti, 21 Savage and Rae Sremmurd.
Fashion critic Bevy Smith let it be known she was not impressed and pointed out the show was only garnering press because of the celebrity of the performers. “All the press can talk about are the amazing performers that Plein spent 7 figures on to get them to attend and perform at his #EmperorsNewClothes spectacle! Very little is being said about the clothes, perhaps because as USUAL they are knockoffs of ’90s Versus by Versace!” wrote Smith, who added, “To Nicki, Future, Dita, Rae Sremmurd & Teyana, I know y’all backed up the Brinks truck!”
In a second post, she accused Plein of being a culture vulture and described a 2016 presentation as “Rainbow shop Versace!” adding, “Insulting the culture & making bad knockoffs.” She finished off with a third Instagram post referring to Alexander Wang’s accusation in February 2017 that the Plein Sport presentation took ideas from his runway.
Plein is known for his big and brash personality. In his coverage of the show, Vogue editor Luke Leitch called called him the Donald Trump of fashion and opened the review by writing, “I really like Philipp Plein. I also kind of loathe Philipp Plein.”
While most designer lift ideas from each other, Plein is more blatant and makes little attempt to cover up his tracks. As well, he’s known for being a braggadocio who would make Kanye West seem humble in comparison.
That said, for fashion outsiders who don’t deal with his extra ways through either interviews or attendance at his shows, his designs have their moments and while not wholly original, aren’t utter top-to-bottom knock offs either.
Plein for his part remains unbothered, writing on Instagram after the show, “I didn’t come to America for the popular vote, I came to make fking noise and I DID just that!” My show had thousands of people waiting to get in, WHY?! Because every year I outdo myself and this was no exception. We killed it!”
Bevy Smith No. 1
Bevy Smith No. 2
Bevy Smith No. 3
Future and Teyana Taylor
