Balenciaga fall 2010

Upon viewing the new Balenciaga collection, my first impression was to judge it as an ultramodern arts and crafts project.  Unexpected combinations of fabrics and materials both soft and bold, both acrylic sheens and colorblocks, patched together into shapes that could have only been created by Nicholas Ghesquiere.  “It was a collection inspired by domestic things,” he said.  It was with this idea that Ghesquiere molded wrap-skirts reminiscent of placemats and dresses resembling old fashion magazines.

New versions of  Balenciaga’s round-shouldered, armor-like jackets and geometric patterns were prevalent, using this same concept of unconventional material mixing.  No stranger to futuristic ideology in design, this season we saw the most futuristic idea of all: recycling.
In a more conventional sense, miniskirts and skinny trousers (both ankle and cropped) were a pattern throughout the show.  The color palette ran the gamut from black and white to pale pastels to bold maroon and navy.

Collarless button-down shirts, though some were made from what looked like perforated plastic, were staples of this collection for layering.  My favorite pieces?  The new foam-like pantsuits, composed of a cropped jacket and a “zip-able” one piece. Another innovative addition was the shoe collection, all crafted together in the same style mix as the rest of the show, in precise and artistic randomness.