Balenciaga A/W 2020 Paris Fashion Week Women’s
Mood board: Guests entered a dark apocalyptic space inside Luc Besson’s Cité du Cinema building in the suburbs of St Denis, with its first two rows of stadium seating completely submerged in a liquid inspired by petrol. As the show began, models forcefully sloshed through the drowning catwalk, as huge projections above zapped images of frothing oceans, raging flames and birds in frantic flight, soundtracked to frenetic classical music and pounding techno. Backstage, creative director Demna Gvaslia divulged that his set wasn’t intended as a nod to our climate crisis or a universal sense of impending doom, but in a season dominated by sustainability and Coronavirus, it was impossible not to get a sense of the end of the world as we know it.
Mood board: Gvaslia explained this was his most personal collection yet – he’d spent hours pouring over his sewing machine during his research process. Rendered largely in black, the offering has a monastic, clerical air – long smocks in black velvet, habit-like hooded coats, sacramental jackets – amalgamated with peak shouldered tailoring, motorcross uniforms, and even a series of neon ‘BL’ logo football strips. The monochromatic focus was also a nod to Cristóbal Balenciaga, who was famously obsessed with the hue.
Finishing touches: Tech-focused accessories have been a utilitarian hit on the A/W 2020 catwalks (Fendi, Prada and Givenchy all offered up elegant AirPod holders). At Balenciaga, Gvaslia twisted ubiquitous white iPhone leads into hair ties.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
-
‘LA Gun Club’: artist Jane Hilton on who’s shooting who
‘LA Gun Club’, an exhibition by Jane Hilton at New York’s Palo Gallery, explores American gun culture through a study of targets and shooters
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Kim Jones’ Dior Men accessories channel the rebellious spirit of the Buffalo Collective
Agitator and establishment meet in Kim Jones’ S/S 2024 Dior Men accessories, inspired at once by the house’s history of haute couture and Ray Petri’s 1980s Buffalo Collective
By Jack Moss Published
-
Hotel Rakuragu is a tiny but mighty modern escape in Tokyo
Hotel Rakuragu, brought to life by Kooo Architects, lies within an 80 sq m plot in the area of Chuo-ku
By Danielle Demetriou Published
-
Louis Vuitton A/W 2020 Paris Fashion Week Women's
By Laura Hawkins Last updated
-
Chanel A/W 2020 Paris Fashion Week Women’s
By Laura Hawkins Last updated
-
Y/Project A/W 2020 Paris Fashion Week Women's
By Laura Hawkins Last updated
-
Sacai A/W 2020 Paris Fashion Week Women's
By Laura Hawkins Last updated
-
Alexander McQueen A/W 2020 Paris Fashion Week Women’s
By Laura Hawkins Last updated
-
Akris A/W 2020 Paris Fashion Week Women’s
By Laura Hawkins Last updated
-
Givenchy A/W 2020 Paris Fashion Week Women’s
By Laura Hawkins Last updated
-
Valentino A/W 2020 Paris Fashion Week Women's
By Laura Hawkins Last updated