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People are mocking Balenciaga for its $1,490 layered tank top, with some comparing the style to early 2000s fashions at Hollister and Abercrombie & Fitch.
While the fashion house is often applauded for its avant-garde techniques, reinventing basic elements with exaggerated shapes, style enthusiasts believe one item fell short. Rather than introducing a brand new design, some fans seemed to think Balenciaga brought back a style from 2003 that they never wanted to see again.
For $1,490, the brand, led by creative director Demna Gvasalia, created a layered T-shirt for its winter 2024 collection. The design combines several stretchy materials sewn together to give the illusion of multiple tank tops stacked on top of each other. A white camisole with a small bow and lace trim is the top layer followed by a blue printed one and a hot pink fabric.
On Balenciaga's website, the tank top extends well beyond the model's hips. The top is paired with baggy grey jeans, flip-flops and a shoulder bag – very Y2K style. However, internet users were not impressed.
“Balenciaga is selling a layered lace tank top for $1,500 that looks like it came straight out of Abercrombie & Fitch 2003,” said one shocked user of X, formerly known as Twitter.
One frustrated fashion fan exclaimed: “WE ARE NOT COMING BACK!!!”
One TikToker had a bit more to say about the style’s resurgence. In a video posted on August 21, Erin Miller (@overthemoonfaraway) said, “What the hell is this?”
Alongside a screenshot of the item listing on Balenciaga's site, Miller gave his unfiltered opinion. “This should only be able to be sold at a very, very dark Hollister in 2004, while you almost died from inhaling too much cologne,” he said.
“It’s described as a mini dress, so thankfully they paired it with jeans,” Miller continued. “I’m pretty sure Ashley Tisdale already wore it on the red carpet in 2003. Where’s your thick belt? Where’s your bolero?”
With over 217,000 views on TikTok, Miller's followers couldn't help but make jokes about the design being a 2003 fashion mainstay.
One person joked: “The moment this came into my field of vision, I started hearing voices telling me to let go of my inhibitions.”
“I could easily buy three cheap dresses and match them like I did in 2008-2009. $1,490 for what?!” another person questioned.
Another commented: “I had six of these. They were $18 at Urban Outfitters in 2002.”
“Someone here said we’re seeing the return of our first fashion cycle as millennials and they were right,” one woman proclaimed.
