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PHOTOS: Orphans, Ostrich Feathers and Resistance at Yeezy's season 3 Fashion Show.

K. Abel
Feb 12, 2016
3 min read

I wish I could write an article of a genuine interview with Mr. West. However, I didn't attend his NYFW Season 3 Show at Madison Square Garden in NYC. I can, however, reimagine how the interview would go down.

Me: Excuse me, Mr. West! Kelly Abel here from Studio By Kelly, Where Art Is Life. Quick question for ya. When you decided to put costume remnants from The Fifth Element and second-hand clothes discovered in a shuttered South Bronx group home into the finest food processor that your millions can buy, were you pleased with the final results?

Yeezy: Who is this peasant? She's wearing gazelles and carries a messenger bag. Minion! Remove her from my presence post-haste!

Me: What? No swag bag? I have a VIP Pass...

Yeezy: Sieze her!

Then, I imagine running through the endless Hellraiser puzzlebox that is Madison Square Garden for my life while a n army of androgynous people of color chase me, snarling, foaming at the mouth, in an almagamated mass of mummy bandages and brightly colored kneepads.

Let's look at a few pictures, shall we? These outstanding photos by superstar photographer Damon Winters for the New York Times came across my desk and I couldn't be more pleased!

I do like the idea of Madison Square Garden housing Kanye West's fashion show because he is a Rock Star, as he often reminds us... The greatest Rock Star of all time, actually... as he often reminds us... The screen overhead lends a very dramatic and cinematic touch as he attempts to string together a narrative as told by fashion. A "Fashion Fairytale" story ,which may or may not end well, from his own dark, genius mind.

What's a YEEZY Show without the unconditionally supportive presence of his beloved foster family, The Kardashian/Jenner clan. Khloe, Kourtney, Kim, North, Kylie and Kris arrived in oppulent, white plumes of bedazzled Ostrich feathers like a Flock of Thornbirds.

MamaDaddy Kaitlin and supermodel daughter Kendall opted for a more low key, poor-phisticated look of tattered, white knits that were probably from the Yeezy Season 2 collection. All jokes aside, I love the family bonding through monochromatic fashion unity.

The durag/wig cap head accessory complimenting futuristic athletic wear sihlouette makes an appearance once again. This time, Yeezy opted for bolder colors and contrasts as opposed to flesh tones. Why does afrocentric Tron come to mind? I don't hate this. I would wear this to the gym or at least wear it around my house and plan to go to the gym.

Again, his vision of the future is bleak. Young people of color dressed in ill-fitting, drably hued clothing sitting on a stage decorated as one of those tent cities for the homeless seen all over the United States. Yeezy's outlook for our children's futures makes me sad. :( He did teach me that if we don't change the world, our children have to look forward to a Kanye West post apocalyptic global orphanage. Thank you for the lesson in consciousness as told through fashion, Ye!

Look at these sad, hopeless faces resting in apathy. :( I'm sold, Yeezy. Where's the Season 3 collection plate? Sally Struthers could learn a thing from you. I mean that. No punchline.

But a glimmer of hope surprises everyone at the end of the show. Some models raise a fist! A fist for resistence or Black power or something! I was encouraged to see the children ready to fight for their rights for freedom of fashion! To no longer be dehumanized by orphan rags, wig caps, TRON yoga pants and kneepads! Resist, children! Resist! Seriously, this was a great political statement and I look forward to more creatives using their platform to rally the battle cry, "Power to the People".