The mysterious hierarchy of Yeezy Season 3: What did it mean?
Kanye West's fashion shows traditionally serve as platforms to promote equality on the catwalk. Both Yeezy Seasons 1 and 2 sent models from across of the spectrum of skin tones down the runway.
Yeezy Season 3, which also served as the debut of West's sixth album, The Life of Pablo, at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, was a slightly different story.
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His use of mostly black models this year, which seemed to act as commentary on equal rights for African Americans, was accompanied by themes of class separation and hierarchy, whether intentional or not.
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A troupe of tall, slender models stood on top of two elevated stages. They were required to follow a list of strict guidelines, including "stand straight," "do not be casual," "do not act cool," "no fast movements," and "no slow movements."
Legendary supermodel Naomi Campbell acted as the HBIC, dressed in all black and sashaying freely among the stoic forms around her on the platform.
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Surrounding the stages on the ground below were hundreds of people wearing pieces from the collection. Judging by their varied ages, shapes, and sizes, they seemed to be sourced from last week's open casting call. They faced toward the stage like a silent mosh pit, acting more as observers than participants.
Was West satirizing the fashion industry's tendency to promote narrow standards of beauty that often exclude the masses?
Maybe he just wanted his clothes to look their best and knew that spotlighting the collection on people who make a living as "human hangers" would get the job done.
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As the event's MC and host, West stood behind a computer, appearing to pull all the strings like the head puppeteer as the new album played.
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Was this West's way of reminding the world of his self proclaimed, god-like Yeezus status?
After all, if he made Taylor Swift famous, maybe he is in charge of everyone's destiny.
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Noelle Sciacca is a Fashion Reporter at Mashable. Noelle writes on the intersection of fashion and the media. A graduate of Liberty University with a degree in Business Marketing, Noelle previously worked for SELF Magazine and Lucky Magazine. At Mashable, her aim is to make the most innovative, entertaining, and empowering fashion content on the web.
