Creative director Demna Gvasalia asked whether the future of fashion lies in its history.
Balenciaga celebrated the art of repurposing, reworking, and regeneration for the label’s autumn/winter 2024 haute couture show. Trends including deconstructed denim, excessive leather, and ruched outerwear dominated the catwalk.
Frequently sported by Kim Kardashian and Cardi B, Nicole Kidman attended this Balenciaga collection in a simple diamante skin-tight dress, Joey King in a bleach-blonde wig, and Katy Perry in a topless dress.
The runway exuded a laid-back vibe, returning to its original location at 10-12 Avenue George V. This was where Cristóbal Balenciaga founded his Paris atelier in 1937.
The latest Balenciaga outing featured oversized velvet, leather, denim, and mesh silhouettes, showcasing metropolitan modernity.
The latest Balenciaga show featured wide-brimmed headpieces, butterfly-feathered masks, and bare faces, all symbolizing regenesis.
The show had a philosophical angle. It made the wearer question how the clothes made them feel.
Moreover, this trend was seen again on the runway, with fabrics repurposed from shirts to scarves, belts to gowns, and even objects transformed into headpieces. Denim, leather, and nylon made their way onto pieces in patchwork and deconstructed forms, leaning into regeneration and vintage dressing.
Ruching and wraps were pivotal in day and evening wear, transforming simple cotton offcuts into formal statements.
The show ended with various Balenciaga signature silhouettes: simple black gowns were eye-catching with faux fur and avant-garde cuts. The pièce de résistance was an excessively ruffled dress that formed an extravagant ruched sphere, virtually swallowing the model whole.
The Balenciaga show showcased avant-garde craftsmanship, questioning if fashion’s future lies in its history.
