Fur and seduction for Jason Wu in New York

NEW YORK - Canadian-Taiwanese wonder-kid designer Jason Wu on Friday sent US supermodel Karlie Kloss down the runway in his New York Fashion Week show that encapsulated strength and seduction.

Elegant tailored suits, jackets, coats and trousers were contrasted with body-clinging sheath dresses with cut-out backs, thigh-revealing splits and luxurious fur showcased seduction.

"I think with this collection there's something animalistic and very, very sexy," Wu told AFP backstage after the show in a SoHo loft, where the winter sun streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows.

"When you think about those silk dresses with the slits and also the lingerie-esque lace dresses and the fur at the end, that felt sexy and modern and seductive," Wu added.

The Jason Wu woman of fall/winter 2015 is sleek and minimalist. Feminine, chiffon blouses were paired with sharp trousers. Slinky evening dresses in delicate beading shimmered in white and navy.

Fur was a prominent feature, worn in stoles, as extravagant trim on a jacket or fashioned into belted gilets.

Wu kept the palate simple and subtle with olive, navy, the most delicate of pale blue-grays, black, white and splashes of coral.

The 32-year-old designer praised Kloss backstage as a special model, one who has poise, elegance and an enduring all-American appeal.

Wu, who shot to fame for dressing American First Lady Michelle Obama while in his mid-20s, said French screen siren Catherine Deneuve was his inspiration this season.

Wu is the only designer in New York to showcase two collections for separate houses: his eponymous brand which was the highlight Friday and his collection for Germany luxury house Hugo Boss, which debuts next week.

He said he has different rules for each brand but sees his own label as his "personal journey." "When I design for Boss I think it's really much more about seeing the Boss DNA through my eyes. So it's two very different set of rules."