Balenciaga Couture Fall 2023-24 “A Disastrous Attempt at Revival”. Review by Eleonora de Gray, Editor-in-Chief of RUNWAY MAGAZINE. Photo Courtesy: Balenciaga.
Balenciaga Couture collection by Demna Gvasalia falls far short of expectations. Despite the brand’s desperate struggle to revive its couture heritage by utilizing the archives of Cristóbal Balenciaga, this collection lacks any sense, structure, or meaning.
One can’t help but question the reasoning behind this ill-conceived endeavor. The primary clients of Balenciaga are no longer nobility or individuals who appreciate the true essence of haute couture. Instead, it seems that the brand has chosen to cater to strippers and pool dancers from the lowest echelons of society, where figures like Cardi B reign supreme. The collection exudes vulgarity at every turn, rendering it distasteful and devoid of the elegance and sophistication that once defined the brand.
While the utilization of archival pieces could have been a redeeming factor, it appears to have been nothing more than a hollow gesture. Rather than paying homage to the legendary craftsmanship of Cristóbal Balenciaga, the collection feels like a mockery. It is as if the brand has taken pearls meant for royalty and tossed them before swine.
The choice of Demna Gvasalia as the “creative” director further compounds the issue. Known for his penchant for shock value and perversities, his presence only serves to undermine any attempt to restore Balenciaga’s reputation. This desperate endeavor to breathe life into the brand feels like a disingenuous ploy, rather than a genuine artistic expression.
In conclusion, Balenciaga Couture Fall 2023-24 by Demna Gvasalia is a woeful misstep in the brand’s history. The lack of coherence, elegance, and respect for the legacy of Cristóbal Balenciaga is deeply disappointing. It is disheartening to witness a once-revered fashion house stoop to such levels of vulgarity in a misguided attempt to appeal to a questionable clientele.
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