Back in February, when A$AP Rocky was pulling up to Los Angeles court rooms in fits more appropriate for a runway, we should’ve realised he was sitting on something big. While he was sat on that wooden bench, waiting for his turn to speak, he was taking in the interior, the atmosphere, the people, and taking note, all so he could bring to life his own rendition of a United States’ courtroom in the middle of Paris Men’s Fashion Week.
Filing into the neo-Gothic United Protestant Church of the Star, guests of Rocky's SS26 AWGE show, including Rihanna and Rza, stepped into a recreation of the American courtroom, filled with wooden benches, AWGE SWAT, and with metal detectors on the makeshift runway. The ceiling was a highlight of the show space's interior, a Rocky rendition of the religious paintings that often cover judicial buildings' ceilings.
At AWGE’s SS26 show, courtroom attire got the upgrade Rocky has been pushing since his tailored suits at his own trial turned heads earlier this year. So it makes sense that his show opened with the most relaxed tailoring we’ve seen since the oversized suits the NBA repped in the ‘90s, deconstructing the silhouette into an almost unrecognizably loose shape.
A tartan dress that I can see Rihanna repping straight off the runway introduced more colour to the collection, which led a transformation from the courtroom to the streets. AWGE’s well-known layered sagging pants appeared with different checks visible at the waist, worn by a model with hot pink rollers in, and a makeshift bullet proof vest - Rocky's political commentary through AWGE is at the same time obvious and fire af. Graphic tees were a highlight of the collection, particularly the one with the words “NOT GUILTY STOP SNITCHIN.”
Rocky’s many link ups with other brands had a cameo on AWGE’s runway, first seen in the flashes of red bottoms as models lifted their feet, revealing stilettos designed in collaboration with Christian Louboutin. There were plenty of shades and specs created with the help of Ray Ban, and obviously new sneakers in partnership with Puma debuted too.
Featured image via @asaprocky©
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