The trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange was the dynamic setting for updated evening wear, wardrobe staples and the ongoing collaboration between Balenciaga and Adidas. All looks were presented over fetish bodysuits and the show started with the loud bell that opens every work day at the NYSE. Demna hits hard and has always drawn attention to our social condition and the fact that we cannot ignore the darkness that surrounds us none the less we can look hard core amazing while walking through it all.
“We have to trigger emotion,” he said backstage, wearing a face-obscuring mask of his own. “We live in a terrifying world, and I think fashion is a reflection of that… I think it was quite urgent, a quite urgent show.” The invitation was a fat stack of fake 100s. It’s a mistake, though, to consider the collection or its presentation as a critique of capitalism. “The most important kind of challenge for any kind of creative is to make a product that is desirable, to create desire. That’s what fashion should do,” Demna said to Vogue.
Garde-Robe is bold silhouettes in sublime cuts, no logos and made in wool, silk, gabardine and artisanal denim. Soft bows are repeated in many of the looks echoing an 80’s look. Evening wear gives us bodycon gowns, tuxedos and full length silk trenches with trains. I’d love to own one of them.
The Balenciaga and adidas collaboration continues with shoes, bags, jewellery, and accessories marked with a sports badge or trefoil logo over the name Balenciaga in the lowercase adidas typeface. A selection of the pieces were made available to purchase only on balenciaga.com or at the Madison Ave, NYC store immediately following the show.
Shoes were hard to not notice as they were oversized, padded XL Pump. Steroid boots and derbies thick in volume made from a single mold using super-exaggerated proportions. The Money Bag line consists of top handle bags and open from underneath and lock with a twist clasp.
Beautiful, strong, a little chilling…very Demna…very Demna does Balenciaga.
Later,
Diane
