Balenciaga's Haute Couture 2023 collection served as a timely reminder of the genius of Demna Gvasalia after two remarkably subdued recent ready-to-wear presentations.
In the wake of the well-documented ad scandal that plagued the house last year, a post-hiatus Balenciaga hasn't been quite the same. And, understandably so.
That was until the house reignited its position in the world of opulence on July 5, with a 52nd Haute Couture presentation held inside Cristobal Balenciaga's Parisian salon.
In the days leading up to the show, guests received a grandeur golden bracelet by way of invitation, a piece inspired by the magnetic wrist pieces traditionally worn by couture atelier staff.
Such is the very nature of couture, the show was expected to be a much grander affair than we've seen of Balenciaga of late, although it would always prove tricky to top last season's star-studded soiree which saw Kim Kardashian, Dua Lipa, Bella Hadid, Naomi Campbell, and even Nicole Kidman, walk for the house.
Still, even without a slew of high-profile names on the runway, Balenciaga Couture impressed, even if it wasn't typically couture.
Suiting took centre stage early on arriving oversized and and typically exaggerated, with distressed denim jeans and jackets also catching the eye.
Distressed and shaggy dresses arrived later on in a rainbow of pinks and reds, some of which had been draped in sparkles and paired with elbow-length sheer gloves. Rigid scarves, statement eyewear, and voluminous footwear served as the show's statement accessories, in a presentation that was surprisingly lacking in extras.
Then again, this is couture after all. So if smaller details and additions were sparse, the bigger splendour looks certainly made up for it, in particular the entirely metal, armour-like dress that closed the show.
The presentation served as a reminder that Demna's Balenciaga knows how to put on a show, one that was viewed from the front row by names like Anna Wintour and Cardi B, who is making Haute Couture Week her own.
Despite the unrest across Paris and the rest of the country, Couture Week continues to go ahead. As it stands, there has been no information to suggest that it won't continue as planned, despite Celine taking decisions into their own hands on July 1 and cancelling its Men's presentation.
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