Balenciaga F/W 2016.17 by Mark Borthwick

[Qemmanu]

IG/balenciaga

 

[Benn98]

I had a feeling it would be as sterile and lifeless as it looks here, very VP. It's a shame that magazine stylists have done a better job so far than these two shots. I mean, Look 14 is my favourite of the lot, but here it might as well pass for something from Moncler Gamme.
These pieces are essentially much better in motion than static. Hopefully at least one evening look will make the cut.

 

[Kanna]

Very unexpected photographer for an unexpected brand. The result is fine, though. Fresh.

 

[Lola701]

I really like it even if i'm a bit tired of seeing the total look on the runway being the total look in the campaign.
Thse heels are killer! I might buy them.

 

[Creative]

He loves Mark Borthwick! I'm on the fence with this. No strong opinion to be honest... Not bad but quite boring. Still better than the rest of the campaigns these season...

 

[Kikala]

Balenciaga Campaign: Taking It to the Street.

No fancy props, actresses or elaborate concept for Demna Gvasalia’s first advertising campaign for Balenciaga. Instead, the designer tapped photographer Mark Borthwick to portray “couture attitudes” in everyday settings.

“I wanted the pieces to be shot in a real environment around where we work and live,” he told WWD. “So we shot in various locations on the streets of Paris.”

It marks a break from previous Balenciaga campaigns, which in the past had featured models, such as Gisele Bündchen, in elaborate poses, and celebrities such as Jennifer Connelly.

Instead, the same models who walked in Gvasalia’s debut show this past March are seen on sidewalks: sipping coffee from a paper cup, waiting for a bus or just striding on platform boots, cracked plaster walls or grimy tiles behind them.

Occasionally, a mirror is propped on the street, picking up the reflection of a delivery truck.

“Mark’s ‘real’ approach in his aesthetic was a key factor in my choice of photographer,” Gvasalia explained.

The unvarnished imagery echoes Gvasalia’s approach to the Instagram feed for his Vetements brand, the poses “uncalculated and spontaneous,” according to Balenciaga. Gvasalia said the layouts of the visuals are key to his creative method. Meanwhile, he takes a wardrobe approach to the Balenciaga collection, starting his creative process with a list of garments.

Asked if he would ever enlist famous people for a Balenciaga campaign, he replied: “The new Balenciaga women, the women who wear the clothes, are my celebrities.”

Lotta Volkova did the styling, Gary Hill the hair and Inge Grognard the makeup. The spots are slated to break in newspapers early next month.

WWD.com (By Miles Socha)

 

[Marc10]

I thought he would pick Juergen Teller, Willy Vanderperre or even Harley Weir. When I saw Mark's name I got excited because it's a really fresh choice... but this is so disappointing. The first pic is kinda interesting but there's pull here, it looks just like a Pre-Fall lookbook.

 

[Lola701]

"It marks a break from previous Balenciaga campaigns, which in the past had featured models, such as Gisele Bündchen, in elaborate poses, and celebrities such as Jennifer Connelly."

The "street" feel actually reminds me of the Christy Turlington fall 2001 and the Diana Dondoe fall 2003 campaigns. A Break? Not so much...
A continuation of the early 00's aesthetic of Nicolas's Balenciaga.

Don't try to convince us that everything you're doing is revolutionnary and new for the house. Be honest about being influenced by your predecessors Demna!

 

[Marc10]

Instead, the same models who walked in Gvasalia’s debut show this past March are seen on sidewalks: sipping coffee from a paper cup, waiting for a bus or just striding on platform boots, cracked plaster walls or grimy tiles behind them.

Occasionally, a mirror is propped on the street, picking up the reflection of a delivery truck.

I actually laughed out loud at this. Soooo "real life"...

 

[MyNameIs]

How boring and predictable.

 

[Benn98]

I thought I was the only one rolling my eyes at that press release! Lol. This concept has been done to death over the past few years. Just because you're flogging puffer jackets doesn't make it real.

Speaking of Teller, I seem to remember a certain VP edit by M&M which was a facsimile of his style. This reminds me very much of that.

 

[YohjiAddict]

Speaking of Teller, I seem to remember a certain VP edit by M&M which was a facsimile of his style. This reminds me very much of that.

"A Quoi Revent les Filles?" in the August 2015 issue no? M&M probably also included some MB in their inspiration board

The press release is not that bad, the one that made some cringe-worthy remarks was the journalist IMO. Still very nice ad, sophisticated and simple with a clean color palette. It does a very good job at showcasing the beautiful collection.

 

[MON]

What...

 

[Phuel]

This would feel much more authentic and genuine like they’ve harped on about had Demna, or an anonymous person just taken the candid shots.

And although I can appreciate his obvious relish and enthusiasm for being at the top of high fashion totem right now, it would serve him so much better to say less and just let his designs speak for themselves. Learn from Rei and her Comme presentations. The press release conjures all kind of cringe to me.

 

[fiqary]

This is awful...

 

[VogueGirl8910]

Amazing for a pefect catalogue.

 

[Handbag Queen]

Seems very dull.

 

[whitewine82]

I like Demna's Balenciaga so much more than his work at Vetements, this ad campaign is great, the collection was OK, but the only thing that I hate is that attitude of trying to pose like the "Fashion's Revolutionary" I mean we all have seen this before, this 90's Russia, this street hype aesthetic, c'mon what the past 6 years have been about? I'm not saying that he is a bad designer, or a bad creative director, I just can't stand this behavior. Proenza Schouler is cooler and fresh than all this, if you wanna know.

 

[lilgruner]

another joke from this guy? what he's doing there? c''mon it's Balenciaga baby!!!! high fashion brand since 1919, when this brand has pretty good reputation on the industry, and how the owners and directors of the brand can leave this guy as a creative director? god... sometimes i just think as normal, this world it's crazy

 

[dcmaike]

I don't like this field style.