Pierpaolo Piccioli - Designer, Creative Director of Balenciaga

[TomBlanksFullFatMiuMiu]

Random thoughts about the appointment:
- Watch PPP discontinue all the Demna sneakers and hoodies as soon as he steps in the office on July 10
- Gabriele Cusimano back as PPP right hand, I like it
- It would be hilarious to see original Valentino trio (PPP, Sabato, Cusimano) reunite with floppy Sabato being called back after the Gucci fiasco but we all know this not gonna happen
- First major designer appointment from Kering, you know big bucks were spent
- PPP makes more sense at Balenciaga rather than Gucci...Gucci is more Maria Grazia honestly
- Waiting for Kim Kardashian, Nicole Kidman, Isabelle Huppert, Naomi Watts to be announced as new Gucci ambassadors while Balenciaga will announce Florence Pough

Hard to say about Sabato
If Bruno (ex-Lanvin) can work under Phoebe in London now, I can imagine Sabato doing Balenciaga under PPP—similar to how Peter Copping was under Demna at Balenciaga for a while. There’s no shame in working as head of design or design director just because you were once a creative director
If anything, Clare Waight Keller at Uniqlo is more embarrassing than Sabato at Balenciaga

 

[chiccestlavie]

Balenciaga pink, baby!

 

[disco54]

Balenciaga needs a complete makeover, he is a good choice, though I feel Gucci would have been a better place for him. I just don't see Demna working at Gucci at all

 

[carla56]

Yes! I have been hoping for this from the day he left Valentino! I can totally imagine his volumes work for the couture! Curious about the ready to wear if it’s gonna become more ladylike and conservative! But I’m very happy

 

[theshadedgaze]

This seems like good news. It will get Balenciaga back to a more elegant tone. One could only wish he would get rid of all the monstrosities there like those sneakers and hoodies and the duct tape bracelet. But as someone mentioned earlier here Pierpaolo he had some lame ready to wear at Valentino. But the couture was usually lovely. Anyway here’s hoping it’s a wonderful partnership. Kering needs something and maybe this will be fruitful.
I mean anything is better than that last individual.

 

[Creative]

How is he going to maintain such a big business with such a limited fashion language?

He was never good at accessories either… Valentino was struggling after MGC left for so many years (money wise).

To me he’s not even a fashion designer but a dressmaker for godmother gowns.

I just can’t imagine why they picked him, but it’s Kering so what would you expect.

 

[mepps]

I absolutely love the idea of Pierpaolo at Balenciaga! I can finally start paying attention to that house again.
Beauty is back, meth head couture is out.❤️

 

[Creative]

He is not even a Creative Director… say what you want about Demna but at least he was able to create a certain world and be relevant for some years to the fashion conversation…

PPP doesn’t have a personal world. I don’t know which models he likes, which photographers… all I can remember about his Valentino are the godmother dresses, not a single campaign.

He was never good at color, never good at accessories, never good creating a certain image or setting trends… he was just there redoing dresses that have been done a thousand times. That is kind of okayish for Valentino, but Balenciaga? Gimme a rest.

 

[Lola701]

I think Yvan Mispelaere should be the design director on all the lines. As for his team, I hope he will shake things up,

 

[fashionmarketeditor]

He is not even a Creative Director… say what you want about Demna but at least he was able to create a certain world and be relevant for some years to the fashion conversation…

PPP doesn’t have a personal world. I don’t know which models he likes, which photographers… all I can remember about his Valentino are the godmother dresses, not a single campaign.

He was never good at color, never good at accessories, never good creating a certain image or setting trends… he was just there redoing dresses that have been done a thousand times. That is kind of okayish for Valentino, but Balenciaga? Gimme a rest.

I’m sorry but saying Pierpaolo was “never good at color” is blasphemy. He literally has some of the best sense of color story in all of fashion, the rich marigolds, teals, magentas in his couture were downright breathtaking. His absolutely has an eye for color.

 

[yslforever]

RIP Kering. Cant wait to see who they replace vacarello with when the time comes. Im guessing that position is saved for SDS

Anthony is in for a long time... they are realizing a documentary about him and SL Productions is greenlightning many more movies (though their lastest Jim Jarmusch flick did not make it to Cannes this year).

 

[yslforever]

How is he going to maintain such a big business with such a limited fashion language?

He was never good at accessories either… Valentino was struggling after MGC left for so many years (money wise).

To me he’s not even a fashion designer but a dressmaker for godmother gowns.

I just can’t imagine why they picked him, but it’s Kering so what would you expect.

Plus half of BB revenues is from male customers. With PPP they can kiss goodbye to them...

 

[Creative]

I saw on Instagram everyone applauding this decision… even Lewismag (one of the only few people in the world whose fashion opinion I kinda respect).

Sometimes I wonder if my eyes see the same way as the rest… I just don’t get how someone that has seen something by YSL can say this man has an eye for color, I don’t know how someone that has seen shows by Tom, Phoebe, Prada, Elbaz, Ghesquière… can be remotely excited about this guy having such an important position. It’s just beyond my mind.

Mediocrity is the definition of today’s standards… not even that maybe. It’s quite sad somehow.

Sorry, but I’m shocked.

 

[Scotty]

It's just the same people swapping positions... what's the point of all of this?

What about someone new every once in a while?

 

[Creative]

It's just the same people swapping positions... what's the point of all of this?

What about someone new every once in a while?

That’s an interesting point…

Demna, MB, PPP, JWA, Sarah… they all had big positions in the past. Even Peter Copping at Lanvin (which will be a major flop once again).

The only ones that could be considered new to the 1st league are Louise Trotter and Michael Rider. And in recent times Chemena.

There’s a drought of talent everywhere and fear from the corporate world… New CEOs don’t understand fashion.

 

[Scotty]

That’s an interesting point…

Demna, MB, PPP, JWA, Sarah… they all had big positions in the past. Even Peter Copping at Lanvin (which will be a major flop once again).

The only ones that could be considered new to the 1st league are Louise Trotter and Michael Rider. And in recent times Chemena.

There’s a drought of talent everywhere and fear from the corporate world… New CEOs don’t understand fashion.

None of them have anything new to offer in my opinion. Sarah's good for what she does though.

At least Chemena is doing fine and we can wait and see for the other two on what they have to offer.

 

[mteb123]

This is off for me!! He’s a great couturier but his ready to wear sucks.. For Balenciaga you need someone more multifaceted and it’s just not PPP… While his Couture at Valentino was beautiful.. He struggled to bring anything else worthwhile. They needed someone like a Riccardo, someone who brings the talent but also can build a world, with edge.. All of which PPP doesn’t have. Another missed opportunity!!

 

[theshadedgaze]

I mean if we are tossing the word mediocrity at Pierpaolo, what word could we use to describe Demna’s work? I just think it would be nice for a change to see some femininity and elegance back at Balenciaga than everyone looking like they shop at Walmart.

 

[Frederic01]

Excited for this. He will bring romance and exuberance back to the house. He can also do restraint well (I am thinking his first solo Valentino Haute Couture collection) and he has more chance in connecting with the Balenciaga archives in Spain that Demna ever did.

I don't know why so many people here despise PPP. He is a gifted designer who has decades of experience in Haute Couture and he will clean up the brand and reposition it to where it should be. Demna's RTW was appalling in quality. Really the cheapest of the cheap materials and so much viscose and polyester etc etc. Say what you want about PPP, but at least his clothes were pure luxury.

I also can't wait to see PPP bin that hideous grey branding and also for him to change those ghastly stores which look like something out of a post-apocalyptic disaster film.

 

[jeanclaude]

It could be better...but it could also be worse.

I am glad the new CD is not one of Demna´s minions. But I know with 3P all is going to be boringly pretty.