Balenciaga S/S 2026 Paris

[susseinmcswanny]

I will wait to see how Chanel is in a couple days but I feel like cutting the entirety of this "entertainment" sector out of my life for a year to see how it could go. Spending the past month looking at this and hoping to feel something is so mentally ill.

 

[carla56]

Some very beautiful pieces ruined by those atrocious flip flops, too many bags and some extra colors that were not necessary, for example why that blue coat, only one blue piece in the collection. Or the denim with the brown. I would have kept everything black and white and monochrome outfits! I’m very happy balenciaga cam back to be elegant and classy!

 

[perhydrol]

Aaaancora.... but then, Sabato's approach to referencing Tom Ford felt much more organic than whatever this collection is. It's not as bad as Dario's Versace, but it doesn't make any impact, and even Wang's debut at Balenciaga was more focused and strong. Had I expected anything better? Not really. As always, there's a lot of "poetry" going on with PPP, and there's not enough substance behind it. Maybe it's because it was rushed, maybe because Demna was still working at the brand when PPP joined, but this just won't make Balenciaga an it brand, and I don't think there's a clear direction.

 

[moonmoon]

everything is so quick and fast-paced. No time to digest the looks. Too many accessories and basic music.

agree

 

[GivenchyAddict]

It is somehow basic but also a product of throwing everything on the wall and seeing what sticks. The flip flop platform sandals are dated and offensive, the feather cap was done better by Prada F/W 2024, the eyewear is another case of being done better before, and the city bags looked out of place randomly (and the new bag design they are presenting here is weak). The only somewhat nice looks were the black sleek looks. Hedi's last Celine collection was better Balenciaga collection than this.

Kering's only hero is Demna who they moved to their money maker Gucci -- leaving the rest of their brands with these new uninspiring creative directors (same goes for Trotter at Bottega), who might as well just be AI, because Kering has zero strategy atm. Oh well.

The bags pissed me off so much because they had no place in this collection. They were forced in most of the looks.

 

[fashionlov]

Cristóbal is smiling again (sort of). In my opinion, it's better than anything Demna has ever done for the maison, I'm convinced of it. In a way, I had extremely high expectations for this debut, and they were only partially met. But you should never judge a creative direction based on a debut collection (with the exception of Dario Vitale's at Versace and Walter Chiapponi's at Blumarine, ahah).
That said, I noticed references to previous creative directors, most notably, of course, Demna's: the sunglasses (which I absolutely hated), the black leather paired with jeans.
Still, what I'm truly waiting for is the Couture show, where Piccioli will be able to delve into and study the brand's archives in depth.
Giammetti’s face in the front row, realizing he lost Piccioli, says it all.

 

[moonmoon]

I remeber now just white.. WHITE TEETH on the end

 

[FashionPower]

EDIT : why his teeth are so WHITE???

I noticed that too.
His mouth was literally fluorescent! LOL

 

[NoInvite]

Appreciate the 180 turn with a hint of Demna's eyewear.

 

[Avonlea]

I actually think this is worse than Wang. At least his collections looked like collections. This was an assemblage of the most uninspiring department store clothes styled by the mother of the bride.

 

[Overindulgence]

they just give standing ovation easily this season huh??

I guess that's when happens when people are paid to be at these shows now (or aiming to be paid to be there). Kering owns that talent agency now lol.

 

[Marc10]

It’s not bad, but it kinda looks like a Carolina Herrera or Oscar de la Renta collection. I thought he was going to be a lot more grand and elevated and have more fun with the archives, it’s way too tame. But it’s pretty and a much needed reset for the brand.

I hated the sunglasses, it felt like he was forced by the suits to put them on this collection to still have a bit of Demna.

 

[FashionPower]

The mask oversized shades were the real star of the show.
Why no menswear? I wanted to see his own interpretation of Demna's sneakers.
The show is a no-no for me...Ancora vibes and Valentino by PPP on a redux.
Those platform flip flops were hideous as hell and ruined the vibe of the show.
If it wasn't for the sunglasses one would have mistaken this collection for a Valentino circa 2022 - 2023 RTW show.
Wang's debut was better I have to say.
I need to see the menswear to judge the full tenure though.

 

[sonofagunns]

That was the most refined level of hodgepodge that I ever seen in my entire life. Everybody was in that collection. Demna, Nicolas, Cristobal, even a little Wang. Pierpaolo is going to have a pick a lane and ride It because they collection gave me the idea that he’s just trying to please.

Hated the overuse of the flip flops, but the evening wear is absolutely perfect . I had no doubts to his ability to be elegant; those last 2 gowns were 🙌🏾

 

[Gonzalo]

The world of PPP makes me sick

 

[Lola701]

Who styled it?
It’s becoming annoying to have shows that have the potential to be a statement, turn into a trunkshow.

As I said in his thread, he can do beautiful clothes and Balenciaga has a good base in shoes and bags to build on but he really needs to get it together in terms of creative vision.

He tried his hardest to be more urban but there are still heavy traces of the sophistication of Valentino. Therefore, the attempts to be more casual brings the allure of the collection down. Instead of doing generic jeans, he could have made tailored pants in denim or in chambray. Instead of pushing those flip flops, maybe sandals with heels as an alternative.

I want to know where you are going with your first show. I don’t want to see you testing the water to see whatever sticks.

The good thing now is that Isabelle Huppert will stop looking like a mess and overall, a kind of timeless elegance (that Demna overtime lost) is back.

I hope he moved to Paris. And I hope that the city will have a lot more influence on his aesthetic.

Great soundtrack and bravo for all the celebrities he was able to pull. Signing Megan as an ambassador is a stunt that Arnault didn’t secure…so great (I guess she has to work somehow).

 

[90sfan]

Oh my, what a snoozefest. Looks like Alexander Wang stint for Balenciaga. Horrible. Old fashioned. Actually Cristobal was more progressive than this collection. I give him 3 more seasons before he gets fired.
And the bags?!? What generic pile of nothing was that. And the casting - generic as f.

 

[YohjiAddict]

It’s not like I can say “told you so!” because I think it was but a minority that had high expectations for this show…but the end result is very much what I feared.

From the lousy soundtrack and total lack of atmosphere, the two quick pace that just made the lack of cohesion even more obvious and the “quirky” styling and accessory choices, this show was nothing if not cringey. Even Pierpaolo himself looked lost when taking his bow.

At times it even felt like he took a few pages out of JW’s Dior debut show with the pleated bermudas paired with capes and peacoats. The show aimed for a mix of urban and romantic but it ended up looking like an edgier Banana Republic, considering how basic everything actually is.

 

[Creative]

He should be designing mother of the groom dresses in a street shop in Puglia. Zero talent.

And… ANOTHER FU****NG STANDING OVATION FOR THIS PIECE OF S***?

Give me a rest.

 

[Lola701]

Oh my, what a snoozefest. Looks like Alexander Wang stint for Balenciaga. Horrible. Old fashioned. Actually Cristobal was more progressive than this collection. I give him 3 more seasons before he gets fired.
And the bags?!? What generic pile of nothing was that. And the casting - generic as f.

He has at least a 3 years contract. So you can add more seasons.
Balenciaga has shrunken so much since the campaign controversy that he is totally safe in his position.
Louise Trotter and Vaccarello have currently more pressure than him..