After a disastrous Yeezy Season 4 presentation last September — for which guests were shuttled out to Roosevelt Island and then forced to wait in the heat for more than 3 hours only to see models fainting where they stood — Kanye West showed his Season 5 collection at New York Fashion Week on Feb. 15.
It was a shocker, but for all the right reasons.
The show was a drama free zone, easy getting in and out. There was essentially spa music playing in the background as show-goers waited for the event to start. Guests in the front row included Virgil Abloh, Hailey Baldwin, La La Anthony, Steven Klein, Pusha, Tyga, ASAP Ferg and of course, Kim Kardashian, who made her return to the front row since being robbed at gunpoint at Paris Fashion Week last October.
Below, find out everything that happened on the ground at the show.
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The Invitations
Invitations were delivered to editors on the eve of the show. Like in seasons past, the Yeezy Season 5 invite included both a sweatshirt (which arrived in a shrink-wrapped package) and a Yeezy zine featuring a leotard clad woman on the front, and sultry images of Teyana Taylor and Sofia Richie inside.
Kanye Yeezy season 5 book and shrink-wrapped shirt has arrived. Show to come tomorrow. #NYFW pic.twitter.com/hvNJvf2N22
— @Booth (@Booth) February 15, 2017
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The Location
Whereas September's presentation on Roosevelt Island required a fleet of buses to haul editors and guests out to the venue — which was a former small pox hospital — this season, West opted for a more traditional spot.
The show was held in a blacked box space at Pier 59 Studios at Chelsea Piers, the same location where Delpozo and Elizabeth Kennedy showed earlier this week.
Looky loos outside @kanyewest Yeezy 5 show @nyfw at Pier 59 pic.twitter.com/XqKGHPylnC
— @Booth (@Booth) February 15, 2017
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The Atmosphere
With a high-profile front row (not to mention, all the fans and bystanders that come with anything related to the Kardashians) the security team had its work cut out for it. "We're just as stressed out as you," they told seat holders waiting to get into the venue.
"We're as stressed out as you," the very nice security guards tell us at @kanyewest #NYFW show pic.twitter.com/JUWYJRBEVH
— @Booth (@Booth) February 15, 2017
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Guests — who, this go around, were allowed entrance into the space right on time — were ushered into an all black space where spa music played in the background. The vibe was definitely one of relaxation.
Easy entrance to much smaller @kanyewest show in blacked out studio space with a handful of seat blocks at 4 rows each. #NYFW pic.twitter.com/jQ7IOsi8t5
— @Booth (@Booth) February 15, 2017
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There's essentially spa music playing during wait for @kanyewest #NYFW show. Keeping everyone calm. pic.twitter.com/Q7DtVm1Js9
— @Booth (@Booth) February 15, 2017
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The Front Row
For the first time since being robbed at gunpoint at Paris Fashion Week last October, Kim Kardashian made her return to the front row.
During her pre-show coverage of the Grammys red carpet for E!, Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner told viewers that Kim would be joined by sisters Khloe and Kourtney to show support for West's latest collection.
Kim also posted a photo of herself (wearing Yeezy sneakers, obviously) en route to the show via private jet.
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Kardashian was spotted arriving in an eggplant hued ensemble.
#KimKardashian for the Yeezy #NYFW showing today. pic.twitter.com/dqW3FgRqHN
— B. Scott (@lovebscott) February 15, 2017
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Also spotted in the front row were Off/White designer Virgil Abloh, Hailey Baldwin, La La Anthony, Steven Klein, Pusha, Tyga, ASAP Ferg and more.
Hailey Baldwin and Lala Anthony at the Yeezy Season 5 show. https://t.co/ThKxg5PPYB pic.twitter.com/hQ1Wc1Godt
— dmfashionbook (@dmfashionbook) February 15, 2017
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Golden Lords pic.twitter.com/xhGOojVV8I
— HOOD POPE (@ASAPferg) February 15, 2017
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The Models
The zine that came with the Yeezy Season 5 invitations included images of Sofia Richie and Luka Sabbat as well as past Yeezy models Amina Blue and Teyana Taylor.
We spotted Sabbat, at least, on the big screen modeling a crewneck and cargo pants. Halima Aden, the first hijab-wearing model signed by IMG, also made an appearance, wearing a full-length fur coat (see below).
The models, most of whom were street cast, were being filmed backstage while standing on a turntable, and their images were projected in real time onto the screen.
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The Show
The models stood on a turn table backstage and were filmed live; their images were then projected onto a curtain. A denim clad model opened the show.
Men's and women's streetwear styles (oversized bomber jackets, velour sweatshirts, track pants and stone washed jeans) included appliques spelling out various L.A. map points, including Kardashian hood Calabasas, Lost Hills and Agoura.
The looks, of course, were paired with the latest Yeezy sneakers. Thigh-high boots — West's other go-to footwear category — were also spotted.
A cover of J. Holiday's "Bed" by The Dream played as models walked the runway.
It's starting #yeezyseason5 with projections on curtain #NYFW pic.twitter.com/uKQCI0mzET
— @Booth (@Booth) February 15, 2017
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It's a #yeezyseasn5 fashion video full of LA map points: Calabasas, Lost Hills, more – and damn cool sneakers #NYFW pic.twitter.com/3YFzGCcFlp
— @Booth (@Booth) February 15, 2017
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The infamous thigh high boots reappear at #yeezyseason5 @kanyewest pic.twitter.com/PGvoxpux8A
— @Booth (@Booth) February 15, 2017
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#YEEZYSEASON5 pic.twitter.com/kd2X2ZTFKS
— dylan jewell ? (@jantzenisgod) February 15, 2017
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#yeezyseason5 pic.twitter.com/uXJb1jm8oz
— jon wexler (@wex1200) February 15, 2017
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The projections were followed by a live runway presentation, all of which lasted just under 15 minutes. The best part? It was all drama-free.
And that's a wrap. #yeezyseason5 show over in 13 minutes; Projections followed by IRL runway looks. #NoDrama pic.twitter.com/ZH3WcdMhg2
— @Booth (@Booth) February 15, 2017
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One of the most low key fashion shows I've ever been to, coming and going #YeezySeason5 @kanyewest #NYFW pic.twitter.com/N9KPnOwWTD
— @Booth (@Booth) February 15, 2017
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