Balenciaga celebrated the art of reusing, reworking and regenerating for the brand's fall/winter 2024 couture show, where trends like deconstructed denim, excess leather and gathered outerwear dominated the runway.
This Balenciaga collection, frequently worn by the likes of Kim Kardashian and Cardi B, featured Nicole Kidman in a simple rhinestone bodycon dress, Joey King in a bleached blonde wig, and Katy Perry topless.
The runway channeled a relaxed indifference: it returned to its roots and took place at 10-12 Avenue George V, the original location where Cristóbal Balenciaga established his Paris atelier in 1937.
For the latest outing, creative director Demna Gvasalia focused on Balenciaga's signature styles of metropolitan modernity and architectural design, while velvet, leather, denim and mesh were created in oversized silhouettes.
It wouldn't be a Balenciaga show without a touch of absurdity: wide-brimmed headdresses dominated the initial looks, transitioning to butterfly feather masks and soon leaving the models' faces exposed, based on the idea of regenesis that ran through the collection. .
There was a philosophical angle to the show: making the wearer wonder how the clothes made them. feelemphasizing the true intimacy of personal fashion.
Layers once again invaded the runway as fabrics were repurposed from shirts to scarves, from belts to dresses and from objects to headpieces. Denim, leather and nylon made their way into patchwork pieces and deconstructed shapes, drawing on the notion of regeneration and vintage clothing.
Gatherings and wraps played a pivotal role in both day and evening wear, transforming simple cotton cutouts into formal statements.
The show ended with a series of signature Balenciaga silhouettes: simple black dresses that turned heads with faux fur and avant-garde cuts. The standout piece was an overly ruffled dress that turned into an extravagant ruched sphere that practically engulfed the model.
As we've come to expect from Balenciaga, the show leaned toward cutting-edge craftsmanship, begging the question of whether the future of fashion, in fact, lies in its history.
