Balenciaga S/S 2009 Paris

[Deleted member 7575]

But its not is it. That's what i was trying to say before. This is retro. It is reinterpretations of the pasts vision of the future. Tron, Star Trek, 2001 etc. And as we all know, nothing dates faster than how the past sees the future.

NG gets touted as the forerunner for pushing fashion forward, but i don't see that at all. Its certainly different to what his contemporaries are pushing out and he should be lauded for that, but lets not be mistaken - He too is looking to the past to develop his ideas.

I think the real forerunner is Chalayan who expreiments with fabrics and technology - a new notion of fashion. One of his recent collections involved morphing materials - now that was pushing the envelope to something extraodinary. And yet he doesn't seem to get much mainstream coverage. Maybe that's because his clothes are too far out there and challenging for us to comprehend right now. And for me that's a true test of a visionary, someone's who's really moving things forward. Because we are so uncomfortable with it, the idea of morphing materials and garments with flashing lights. It's ridiculous, right? Only until it becomes normal and we think back and go, 'well of course.'

The thing with NG's vision is that its familiar. It's 'futuristic', ok, but we are comfortable with this future, we can applaud this because we've seen it before - this is acceptable, we don't sit back and go, 'there's no way that'll ever happen'

But Ghesquire does in fact set the trends. Other designers constantly look to his work, collections well over 4 years old at this point, to make designs now. If you look at major trend services like Peclers, WGSN, or Doneger you'll find them constantly pulling from his collections. Of course he references the past, they all do, but he's pulling things that are relevant before the rest of us realize. Fabric piecing, the skinny leg, the high waist, the emphasized shoulder, short hems, the list goes on and on, trends that Ghesquire picked up on before almost anyone else did. Hussein Chalayan differs in that regard. He makes amazing clothes but they never really end up on anyone.

He references a science fiction aesthetic and I don't think he does it because he genuinely believes it is the future, I think it's because he believes that aesthetic has finally found it's place outside of fantasy for right now. He could just as easily look to the past and design with historical periods in mind like so so many other designers do.

 

[dior_couture1245]

The is straight out of Space Mountain at Disney World.

I think that's why I love this SO much!

 

[Emilia]

Hq





FWD

 

[richardedmond]

At the moment, I have mixed views on this collection, especially because F/W was so stunning. I hated the heart shaped panels on the front of the first few looks, totally unnecessary and unsightly, however the jackets were very beautiful, as were the final few dresses. I also liked the tights/shoes, but agree with most others that the trousers were disastrous, an horrendous example of how to remake something that was perfect in the first place. Nicolas' pants were a famous hallmark of the house and he should have stuck with them. The reason, I believe, why this collection has disappointed many people is that its reference to a past view of the future is so very obvious, instead of the structural creations of Ghesquière's other shows. A full video of the show, however, may change my perspective.

 

[kahlilg]

i like the detailing on those gray pants

 

[mackos]

HQ's! Emilia, you made my day with them!

 

[ChillChaser]

It's growing on me but I'm disappointed with the shoes.
I always look to Balenciaga for shoes and this is kind of unwearable .

I'm wondering if they're going to sell any regular shoes in this collection or are the "tights footwear" just it?

 

[mackos]

I'm wondering if they're going to sell any regular shoes in this collection or are the "tights footwear" just it?

Thay always have some other models in sale, so I'm sure they'll deliver some wearable version

 

[cato.]

thank you the HQs!

 

[papa_levante]

Great collection. I love the wraps on the dresses.

 

[*ana*]

the details are UNBELIEVABLE

 

[masquerade]

the HQs are amazing

thank you so much

I love the way the shirts and tights form a sort of body suit around the wearer. its like futuristic armor.

 

[satin chic]

The jackets and non-glittery dresses are great, but overall this is such a disappointment to me. I think it's slowly growing on me, though.

 

[chessmess]

^ I never said last season was new either.

But it felt new. No, foam bonded fabric isn't groundbreaking, but a classic, wearable, sexy little black dress made out of foam bonded fabric is. He managed to distill all of the innovation he'd been working on and all of the futuristic ideas he'd been playing with to create and enhance clothes for the here and now, not for the 1980's interpretation of the future, and not so futuristic that it's not apparent how it relates to today.

perhaps he'll do the same next season
im guessing experimentation is crucial before he can translate it into more wearable clothes

 

[ChristionCouture]

I love it all! The styling is a bit bizarre, but the pieces are hot!

 

[kuli_trendy]

the carpet looks great everytime the lighting changes.

 

[kriszti.md]

loving this collection

 

[helmut.newton]

This was *the* show of the season, for me.

It was seriously a stand-out amongst all the other shows in Paris.

Nicholas is a visionary!

 

[dior_couture1245]

^^Totally agree...and while there were several other shows this season that I loved (Rodarte, Prada, Miu Miu), Balenciaga was the only show that REALLY excited me!

 

[snowqueen]

I like it generally .. I love the fabrics and the shine on some pieces as well as the patchworky type details .. reminds me of a fish in a werid way lol

The mens clothes is nice but i cant help but cringe and think of the beatles.. maybe its the boxyness kinda reminds me of sargent pepper type of thing haha maybe thats jsut me though