Balenciaga A/W 2016

(Image credit: press)

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.