Thursday, February 28, 2008

Paris Fashion Week: Balenciaga

Cristóbal Balenciaga introduced couture shapes to women. His bubble skirts and odd, feminine, yet ultra-modern shapes were trademarks of the house.

"In a Spanish way it's probably the most Balenciaga collection". That's what Nicholas Ghesquière said (á la Style.com podcast). This collection was very true to back in the day Balenciaga. The black dresses were stunning and the return of the bubble skirt made it's entrance in this season's collections. This was a severe, more mature collection. Ghesquière always manages to make the collections for Balenciaga elegant yet sporty.



Interesting Pieces:



















































I love the first three dresses. They're more of a leaner, more sculptured dress. Those cocoon-like coats are soooo futuristic. They're a futuristic textile work but with more strictness to them. What I'm wondering is are they leather, PVC, pleather...what??

Channeling that 'old-school' Balenciaga:





















These outfits are really true to what Cristóbal did in the 50s and 60s. Here, however, Ghesquière is reinventing the double faced fabric that Cristóbal used in the 50s. The details on the jacket, the bold and striking colors are very reminiscent of the earlier works.










Wearable:






































These pieces I love because I could totally see myself wearing them (okay if I were a glamorous New Yorker rather than a New York college student). Skinny gray pants and draped velvet and taffeta tops— absolutely divine! I love (and want!) the red top and gray pant combo).

The New Suit:






































I'd definitely wear the gray short sleeve jacket. I don't know how I feel about the skirts. I mean it is inventive with the split and all and I guess I'd wear it, but how practical is it? The third outfit (gray short sleeve jacket with the metallic-ish skirt) isn't bad- the others...I don't know.

The Little Black Dress Reinvented:






































You really see the cut in these black dresses. I really like the black and white combo and would definitely wear had I the opportunity.

Ice Ice Baby!!





















There is some serious bling in this collection. Simply breathtaking! Crystals, faux gems, and pearls...some of these are archive copies, others new.













Makeup:























Here's a bit of that dark, severe eyes. It really complements the collection. Honestly if there were nude faces walking down the runway, it wouldn't have the same effect.










Shoes:






















I love the white boots. I don't know why. I also love the black and silver shoes. Those are stunning!
















There were less embellishments this season. This is so cliché but less really is more.

"The genius of Ghesquière's Balenciaga is that he can extrude something so smoothly modern from so many layered references." - Sarah Mower

so true, so true


photos courtesy of style.com

0 comments:

Related Posts with Thumbnails