The Breakout Front Row Star At Alexander Wang’s Show? A Robot

At Alexander Wang’s autumn/winter 2019 show in New York, the usual suspects of too-cool front row stars crossed the bridge to Brooklyn to take in the designer’s latest collection of downtown staples (think slinky velvet maxi dresses, twisted pinstripe shirting and oversize rugby jerseys with satin slip skirts). In attendance were celebrities slash brand devotees such as 21 Savage and Teyana Taylor, who made the scene, but the presentation’s biggest breakout star? A robot. But not just any ol’ robot – a robot with killer fashion sense.

Meet Sophia, an AI creation from Hanson Robotics who is apparently the Hong Kong-based engineering company’s most advanced robot. Sophia, whose torso comes without legs, was snapped front row wearing Wang’s boxy blazer with metal safety pins forming hearts on both of her sleeves. She also wore an Axel Rose-inspired bandana around her neck, an accessory that also made an appearance throughout the show. (Only A-list influencers get to wear his pieces before they hit the catwalk!) In videos shared on Instagram, Sophia can be seen swivelling her head as models walk by, perhaps making her shopping list.

A quick look at Sophia’s Instagram (@realsophiarobot) shows that she has a penchant for statement-making fashion. In November, she was seen experimenting with voluminous silhouettes in both a white and red ruffled blouse. She also claims to love traveling in the name of style: “I love meeting people from all over the world, and I also love experiencing different fashion,” she wrote in one post. Furthermore, she has also attended Shanghai Fashion Week in the past, and even sported a vintage Gucci bag like a true It girl. So, will Sophia soon be a fixture on the fashion month front row, following in the footsteps of the CGI influencer Lil Miquela? Only time well tell. But one thing is for sure: Artificial intelligence has never looked so chic.