There was no denying that Balenciaga was one of the most highly anticipated shows for Paris Fashion Week, possibly for the entire Fashion Month, and with good reason too – it was the Alexander Wang’s debut collection for the French fashion house since being appointed to creative director after the shock resignation of his predecessor Nicolas Ghesquière
Given the circumstances, people were bound to compare the latest collection to those of Ghesquière’s and many have drawn comparisons between Wang’s first collection for Balenciaga to Ghesquière’s debut collection circa 1998/1999.
The designer stuck to his minimalist roots and stuck to one of the key trends for this season, monochrome, while also incorporating some interesting fabrics like the cut-out and fuzzy fabrics in the last looks.
However, what really stood out to me in this collection though was the use of textures. Not usually one to go for printed looks, Wang took the opportunity to experiment with textures that lent themselves to give a similar effect to a print. Note the embossed detailing on the leather in looks 9, 10 and 17, and the beautiful marble-snakeskin hybrid-like print in looks 22 and 23.
The real highlight of the collection for me are the details in looks 28, 29 and 30. The effect is kind of like cracked white paint on a black surface and it kind of reminds me of a stone gargoyle coming to life… Just me? Nevertheless, they are such simple yet striking pieces – love.
So what are your thoughts on Alexander Wang’s first collection for Balenciaga?
Images: Style.com
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