It was meant to be Kanye’s night – what with simultaneously releasing a new album and a collection worn by models including Naomi Campbell and Veronica Webb. But, as he should know by now, when the Kardashian-Jenners are involved, upstaging comes as standard. See the backstage group shot on Thursday night of Kanye flanked by seven of the clan, plus Khloe’s ex, Lamar Odon. Sure, a mixture of dryclean-only ivory, diamonds and endangered-looking fur on Kim, Kourtney, Kendall, Kylie, Khloe, Kris and Caitlyn is a route-one way to rich people dressing, but it’s guaranteed to work. See also: Cruella de Vil, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Liberace.
And, when it is multiplied by seven of the most-watched celebrities of right now, all in custom-made designs created by both Kanye and Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing, the old-school combo of fur coat and diamonds looks totally alpha, totally 2016 – and, with Khloe and Kris both wearing tonal spandex, totally Kardashian. Here’s the modern version of a Gainsborough family portrait, complete with symbols of wealth, including hip-hop mogul kneeling at their feet, ready to be beamed around the world.
Of course, that pose is a bit of a humblebrag. Kanye – as he would be the first to admit – is no fool. He masterminded being upstaged, in fact, co-designing those outfits, namechecking Rousteing in his speech and consciously downplaying his own look, with baseball cap, long-sleeve tee and jeans, so he looks more like a fan photobombing the picture than a multimillionaire creator of the best album in the world that we all know he is. The detail that gives the biggest clue he’s still in control? Kylie’s beanie. The outfit might be pure Kardashian but that styling detail comes from the Kanye school of fashion.
