The Alexander Wang Pre-Fall 2015 collection had a set agenda with boxy, utilitarian shapes that called to mind firemen’s gear predominated.

“We started thinking about what forms the archetypes and architecture of a woman’s wardrobe, and then the idea of individual style,” Wang said. “Street style has become where people follow trends, [where they see] an individual way of mixing things together that becomes so documented and so copied. It’s really about individual style.”

The collection does indeed feature a range of looks and proportions that a girl can mix and match with street-style-loving bravado. Yet Wang’s message resonates beyond do-your-own thing. He is fashion’s primary emissary of cool — everybody knows that. He delivered that core element with new polish and sophistication across a range of motifs — optic stripes, multitexture knits and fabulous men’s-inspired tailoring. He also decided to get with the red-carpet program officially, showing a capsule of four linear gowns that underscore elegance with a shot of power glam. “It’s still a foreign category for us,” Wang said. “But before, anything we did was custom. Now, if someone wants something special, we’ll know what it derives from.”