For anyone who ever doubted Kanye West’s talent for fashion design, look no further than his most recent Yeezy Mama collection to silence those naysayers. The below freezing temperatures in New York City didn’t keep fashion editors, artists, musicians, tastemakers, and the Kardashian-Jenner clan away from the rapper-turned-fashion designer’s runway show held at a department store on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn.
If we know anything about Kanye, it’s to expect the unexpected, so it was no surprise that he cleared out the racks and shelves in the children’s section in the store and set up a runway made out of Legos. The catwalk was littered with Cheerios, spilled milk, broken toys, and dirty baby clothes, which seemed to convey that our most fashionable moments can occur right in the comfort of our living room.
When I finally arrived at my seat, located directly behind the age-defying Kris Jenner, I looked in my Yeezy Mama swag bag to find a limited edition Snuggie x Yeezy blanket, which is the perfect accessory for watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians at home.
The lights next to the Lego runway lit up to signify that the show was starting. The first model appeared wearing a tan-colored maternity sports bra with two wet spots over her nipples and a pair of white mesh postpartum underwear with the word “Yeezy” written across the rear end. On her feet were a $950 pair of low-slung brown ankle Ugg x Yeezy boots, which will be the most sought-after item from the entire collection.
Oversized, tattered flannels were paired with leggings that had lost their stretch. Bleach-stained green Yeezy Mama T-shirts were worn with camouflage maternity pants. My favorite look was a model in an oversized army green hooded Yeezy Mama sweatshirt that was unzipped to reveal a hands-free matching nursing bra. With breast milk flowing from her nipples, she sashayed down the catwalk adjusting her floral Yeezy Mama granny panties with one hand and holding an oversized brown Dunkin’ Donuts x Yeezy travel mug with the other. The clothes were both compelling but yet showed a new awareness about the glamorous life of the suburban housewife.
The soundtrack for the show were tunes from Kanye’s soon-to-be-released album. One featured Raffi’s “Baby Beluga” lyrics over a sparse, heavy beat and another had Oprah stating, “Turn your words into wisdom” looped over the bassline of Lou Reed’s “Take a Walk on the Wild Side.” Lenny Kravitz, who sat in the front row, told reporters, “The music was a thought-provoking edgy combination that could only be imagined by Kanye.”
At the end of the collection, the entire audience stood up and applauded as the last model appeared on the catwalk. She wore one-of-a-kind Yeezy Mama hospital gown, cropped at the belly button with a pair of postpartum Yeezy mesh underwear. In her hands was a newborn baby wrapped in a Babies R Us x Yeezy blanket. She nursed the baby as she strutted down the runway, in a pair of Ugg x Yeezy boots.
In the end, Kanye appeared in an army green Yeezy Mama T-shirt and a pair of matching sweatpants. They were stylishly stained with yogurt as were the pair of brown UGG x Yeezy boots. After Kanye bowed and blew a kiss to Kim, the show was over. As I walked out of the department store, a notable fashion photographer sitting next to me whispered, “Kanye’s made history.” With the Yeezy Mama collection, Kanye has solidified his place as one of the most iconic fashion designers of all time.