American rocker Post Malone presented his debut fashion collection entitled “Austin Post in Paris” on Monday, and though his music suggests poetic metalcore hip-hop, his show location was Karl Lagerfeld’s former mansion.

In effect, the upstate New York-born and Texas-raised born rocker stole ten days march on the international runway season, since the first proper official catwalk display of the upcoming spring-summer season starts on Sept. 10. Those four weeks of shows kick off next in New York with Ralph Lauren.
 
Talk about chutzpah, and more power to Post Malone for having in spades. Or should we say ‘spurs’, seeing as several of his cast wore metal Billy-the-Kid spurs with their ostrich leather cowboy boots.

A pedant, and there is the odd one in Paris, could argue that there was no “deuxième degree” – French slang for taking something somewhere new. Nonetheless, this collection felt real, and — even if it referenced “Yellowstone” and “1883” — still felt very fresh.

Malone is one of those Americans who imbibes life in large gulps. Currently, most people in Paris are appalled by the steady descent into authoritarianism under Trump. But Post Malone reminded us of the kinetic force of the America Dream.  His multi-faceted music is a mashup and mélange of metalcore, hip hop, hard rock, trap and country. Even if his fashion is singularly focused on hip set Western gear. And light years away from Karl Lagerfeld.

 
Asked about the dichotomy, he responded: “multi-faceted, that’s generous, very generous… But it (the collection) is what I wear. I am 30 years old, and I take it easy, every single day. With some embellishment, and I want to say exasperbation (sic). Like that buffalo coat, I’ll rock all winter long in it!”  

Fans of Taylor Swift will be familiar with Malone from their duet “Fortnight”, where she dons “Wuthering Heights” country house goth frocks, and he was attired in Edwardian black. He first made an impact back in 2015 with “White Iverson” – a break out video – referencing famed basketball player Allen Iverson. Where Post paraded around in all black or white oversized T-Shirt, skinny jeans and padded Jordan high-tops. As guys drove by in a white Ranger Rover or Rolls Royce. 
 
There was none of those looks in this show. Instead, he focused on ranch-hand jeans; workwear coats; star-embroidered denim jackets; plaid shirts; fringed leather jackets worn with hoodies; suede cattle baron suits. His cast – a mix of cool Parisians and bona fide cowboys wearing ten-gallon hats or Dallas Cowboys trucker caps. Their modish marshal climaxing the show in a huge buffalo coat – Pan Handle Wildcatter chic.
 

Post Malone plans to open a pop-up in New York later this month, though when pressed on where a consumer could buy his clothes, he dead panned “that’s a good question.”
 
Whipped and driven by a kicky soundtrack that included a Neil Young guitar solos and “Serengeti Echoes” by Theo Parrish, the show and garden party had plenty of energy. Nothing hyper original, but all very cool and cleverly styled by local hero, Dan Sablon.
 
Before the show climaxed with a magnificent French tan horse, finished with Western-style tooled leather saddle and bridal, taking a proud bow inside the mansion on the actual runway, which Karl would surely have loved, as the audience did. Rising to raucous applause as Post took his bow, head to toe in blue denim, dissected by a chunky cowboy buckle, his silver teeth catching the lighting.
 
“I love this f…ing town. We figured why not bring the Bud Light and the shenanigans to Paris… When we saw this spot, it was so beautiful. We love Karl and we are just honored they would have us here,” said Post.
 
Eat your heart out, Kevin Costner.