A warm sunny morning on the first day of October saw Balenciaga put on a show. Well, its Summer 2024 runway show was set up like a theater.
In the days leading up to the show, Balenciaga did its typical Instagram swiping and previews served served a là Kim K, who, by the way, is a part of its Summer 2024 cast.
Famous faces — "friends, family, and colleagues," as the brand calls them — were everywhere at Balenciaga's Summer 2024 presentation. While names like Kris Jenner, Offset, and Paris Hilton mingled in the audience, Amanda Lepore and Cathy Horyn hit the runway. Demna's mother and even his professors walked, too.
On Balenciaga's heavily draped red velvet runway, huge, baggy styles (classic Demna) materialized as super oversized outerwear, more exaggerated shoulders, the chunkiest Balenciaga sneakers, and large suitcase totes. On the other hand, evening gowns and tracksuits clung close to the body, still playing with proportions via flared finishes or big footwear.
Balenciaga Summer 2024 also presented several upcycled pieces, including more of those reworked biker jackets comprised of deadstock leather. The collection's finale wedding dress emerged as seven vintage wedding dresses layered on each other, per the brand. It kind of reminded us of Kim's wedding dress from the DONDA days. Remember that?
Balenciaga Summer 2024 is a tad more interesting, maybe even a little more fun compared to its most recent offerings. Since the child ad controversy, Balenciaga has taken a more subtle approach to design, evident with its theatric-free Spring 2024 and FW23 collections (compared to past seasons of noodle scarfs, leather trash bags, and pre-trashed shoes).
According to Balenciaga's show notes, Balenciaga Summer 2024 is all about "what fashion is to Demna in its most personal way."
"A tribute to crafting the garment. A personal expression."
