Demna's Most Personal Showcase for Balenciaga's Spring/Summer 2024
Demna brings together the muses and significant figures from his life, gracing the catwalk with their presence.
Demna is back to being himself with a fresh perspective for Balenciaga's Spring/Summer 2024 collection. This collection is marked by unconventional ideas, incorporating innovative and sustainable materials, blending comfort with luxury, and seamlessly transitioning from streetwear to evening attire. It includes stiletto-heeled shoes and derby shoes that ingeniously transform into bags, as well as passport holders designed as portfolios, all while embracing the Balenciaga community.
The Spring/Summer 2024 Balenciaga show unfolds in a theatrical ambiance, adorned with crimson drapes. The soundtrack, crafted by BFRND (Demna's husband), combines orchestral, piano, and electronic elements, accompanied by the mesmerizing voice of French actress Isabelle Huppert, the global ambassador for the brand. Isabelle recites instructions on crafting a custom-tailored jacket from the "La Veste Tailleur Homme" manual, which also served as the show's invitation booklet.
Look 1 showcases Ella, the designer's mother and his initial style muse, donning a recycled car coat assembled from three deconstructed and reworked vintage pieces. The tailoring exhibits meticulous attention to detail, creating a 2D effect for flattened, straight strapless shoulders and oversized silhouettes with couturier-quality pleats. The footwear boasts exaggerated proportions, featuring tennis socks paired with heels and comfortable flats to complement pointy slippers. Notably, each shoe will be available in both women's and men's sizes.
The daywear segment of the collection indulges in layering, offering fluid and imposing outerwear pieces. For instance, Diane Pernet, a designer, journalist, and creator of the first international fashion film festival ASVOFF, elegantly sports a long leather trench coat. The collection also includes jackets and oversized coats adorned with double-breasted buttons, gracing the figures of "The Cut" critic Cathy Horyn and the esteemed fashion educator Linda Loppa, known for teaching fashion to the legendary Antwerp 6. Robin Meason, the world PR director of Balenciaga, dons a bomber jacket layered over a lengthy skirt. The essential long skirts boast A-line designs and removable panels for customizable silhouettes.
In an impactful move towards material circularity, the collection introduces LUNAFORMTM, a low-impact, plastic-free alternative to leather. This innovative material was specially developed for Balenciaga and marks its debut in the fashion world, derived from fermented nanocellulose.
Terry bathrobes make a statement as overcoats, with jacket necklines widened and deconstructed to be worn off the shoulders. The motorcycle clothing trend is resurrected with a biker jacket crafted from recycled leather. The eveningwear segment concludes the show, featuring sumptuous lace creations for the iconic Amanda Lepore. Circular dresses with vinyl prints alternate with retro floral patterns reminiscent of tablecloths, as exemplified by Asian top model Liu Wen. Some outfits are artfully reassembled from previous collections, such as the final look worn by BFRND—a captivating blend of seven pre-2000s wedding dresses, skillfully cut, sewn, and reimagined to evoke an authentic dream of lace and ruffles with a gothic twist.
Demna continues to enchant with a cast of prominent personalities, daring concepts, haute couture craftsmanship, and meticulous attention to detail. The creative director places a strong emphasis on the meaning behind his fashion, the influence of his ideas, and the joy of entertaining his family of friends, colleagues, and loyal fans of the house. And he has undoubtedly succeeded.
Check out every look from Balenciaga's Spring/Summer 2024 collection below:
Check out all the celebrities who attended the show below:
