Scene setting: The venue for Paris' most anticipated show of the season was a television studio. Complete with grey padded walls, the space was well wired for sound, and to a penetrating beat new artistic director Demna Gvasalia broadcast his vision for the house of Balenciaga to the world.
Mood board: This show was all about form as Gvasalia successfully captured Cristobal Balenciaga's couture methodology within a modern sportswear context. This was evident from the light padding of his opening, C-curve plaid looks, which emphasised the hips via ardent construction, to his oversized outerwear pieces (anoraks, trenches, puffers, denim and leather biker jackets included), which were styled with a nod to the streets, each piece cut to structurally slip back off the shoulders.
Finishing touches: Elongating the couture silhouette, platformed leather boots in a range of hues from cobalt blue to punchy florals (the latter worn with his coordinating floral brocade looks) will be the hot ticket footwear choice for winter. Gvasalia also debuted a whole host of boxy shoulder bags, which will no doubt refresh Balenciag's bag business along with his super striped Laundromat totes that tied back to his more utilitarian Vetements vision.
-
Saltviga House is an architectural celebration of leftoversSaltviga House by Kolman Boye Architects ingeniously uses offcuts from Dinesen planks to create a timber retreat on the south coast of Norway
-
Paola Navone turns her souvenirs into lottery prizes
Lottery now open: ‘Take It Or Leave It’ – by Paola Navone and The Slowdown with Daniel Rozensztroch – sees the Italian designer offer her souvenirs to the design community in Milan
-
London Original Print Fair 2023: 10 prints on our radar, from Brian Eno to Tracey Emin
As London Original Print Fair 2023 kicks off (until 2 April 2023), explore the 10 prints on our wish list this year, from Brian Eno to Tracey Emin; Mona Hatoum to Harland Miller
-
From The Simpsons to the European Parliament: best Balenciaga show sets
‘Ay, caramba!' In celebration of The Simpsons-inspired Balenciaga S/S 2022 runway show, which saw the residents of Springfield descend onto the catwalks of Paris Fashion Week, we present the best recent fashion show sets from the Parisian maison
-
Walk this way: navigating S/S 2021's Paris Fashion Week
How the City of Lights looked to the sartorial realities of our much changed lifestyles
-
Louis Vuitton A/W 2020 Paris Fashion Week Women's
-
Chanel A/W 2020 Paris Fashion Week Women’s
-
Y/Project A/W 2020 Paris Fashion Week Women's
-
Sacai A/W 2020 Paris Fashion Week Women's
-
Alexander McQueen A/W 2020 Paris Fashion Week Women’s
-
Akris A/W 2020 Paris Fashion Week Women’s
