May 26, 2017 |
Some might say it’s sacrilegious to reduce an entire fashion house’s history to ten looks. Not us. We are 10. So we will pick 10. House in question is Balenciaga, for which we are having a bit of a manic moment thanks to the V&A’s new exhibition, Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion, which opens on Saturday here in London town. Perfect timing we say – under Demna Gvasalia the house has defined what everybody is wearing, now. So enjoy a whittle through Balenciaga past and present – from Cristobal himself to Demna, and those who came between. Note: these are my personal favourites. Take it up with me if you have an issue.
Collection unknown
Still incredibly modern – we start a bit full circle because here you can see the exact codes that both Demna Gvasalia, as well as Nicolas Ghesquiere before him, have mined for their own genius interpretations of the house.
Winter 1957
AKA the creation of the iconique high-waisted baby doll dress. Wah!
Summer 1960
A classic Cristobal evening dress in stiff duchess satin, shown here in one of his infamous fittings photographs.
Spring 2003
I like to tell people Balenciaga was my first fashion word. It made my pre-teen heart all of a flutter – I was nine when this collection came out, and the pop goddess Kylie Minogue wore this saucy dress in her “Slow” music video. To this day I still act out that video whenever I get a sniff of a beach towel.
Spring 2006
The signature baby doll presented the Ghesquiere way – light and airy – perfect for a fairy like me.
Spring 2009
An absolute standout from Nicolas Ghesquiere’s time at the helm – the codes presented here in space-age, otherworldly form. Those alien tight boots? ICONIC.
Fall 2007
The lego heel is THE only shoe I’ve ever cried over, in a collection that explored a more tailored side of the house.
Fall 2015
Alexander Wang’s run at the house may of been short but this collection was the house codes made modern and very WANG.
Fall 2016
This was the first taste of the incredible Demna Gvasalia, who re-lit the Balenciaga fire with a collection that played with the house’s original tailoring, creating a collection that was entirely modern. We were gagged.
Fall 2017
The latest offering from the incredible Demna Gvasalia – here, to close the show, he recreated Cristobal’s masterful couture looks, adding pockets and matching Bazar bags. Because as the old adage goes: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion is on at the V&A from 27th May to 18th February 2018
