Sure, he was a Parsons dropout. Big whoop. Now, he's one of the coolest new designers and a bona fide critical darling. His label is the embodiment of several generations rolled into one — the good, edgy stuff from the '80s and '90s without all the ultra-neon nonsense — and exudes a casual, nonchalant attitude.

Wang is known for his edgy, somewhat masculine women's wear designs. After designing a Fall 2008 collection using black as the predominant color, he designed his Spring 2009 collection using bright colors such as orange, dusty purple, aqua and hot pink, and proclaimed, "They wanted color, they got color!". Although he reverted to using mainly black fabrics, he was praised for showing great tailoring skills.

Alexander Wang
Designer: Alexander Wang
Launch: 2007
City: New York City
Famous Fans: Mary-Kate Olsen, Gwyneth Paltrow, Megan Fox
Signature Style: Urban chic mixed with '80s flair and '90s grunge