Balenciaga released the latest 2024 Spring "Capital B" collection. This time, no catwalk was arranged, but the new collection was shown in the form of a creative video and lookbook.

After the previous two consecutive advertising crises, in addition to targeted remedial measures, Balenciaga also made adjustments to the release of the new collection: the 23 Fall collection, which was supposed to be released in December last year, was postponed to May this year and March this year. The 2023 Winter fashion show also abandoned all conceptual packaging and focused on the clothes themselves.

The Fall 23 collection was released in early May.

Winter 23 fashion show in March

In fact, since the restart of the high-definition line, Demna, the creative director of the brand, has been talking about returning to clothing, and this time the crisis caused by advertising images has also prompted him to focus more firmly and more thoroughly on the core aspects of clothing—cutting, silhouettes, fabrics, and an elegant style inherited from the brand's founder.

In this way of thinking, we can see that the first post-crisis conference, the Winter 23 Fashion Show, is similar in many ways to the brand’s previous haute couture show, and the latest Spring 24 collection continues in the same direction to go ahead.

The short films for Balenciaga's Spring 24 collection were directed by Mau Morgó, and the score is still by BFRND, who adapted the French chanson "Sous le Ciel de Paris" sung by Édith Piaf. This classic chanson first appeared in Julien Duvivier's 1951 film "Sous le Ciel de Paris" about a day in Paris when the fates of several strangers intertwine under the city's skies.

Similarly, Balenciaga's Spring 24 short film series focuses on a day in front of 10 Avenue George V in Paris.

10 Avenue George V is the soul of Balenciaga.

The brand was born here in 1937. In 2021, the first fashion show of Balenciaga's return to haute couture was also specially arranged to be held in the original haute couture salon. In July 2022, the brand opened its first haute couture boutique here.

The camera is fixed on the opposite side of 10 Avenue George V, and through limited panning, pushing, and pulling, the ordinary day in front of "Le Dix" is shown to the audience.

All kinds of Paris residents pass by here briefly; dog walkers and couriers pass by, pick up coins that fall on the ground, and look at shop windows. All ordinary behaviors have a certain poetic flavor in the film. The heavy rain came suddenly, but it did not ruin life. Maybe hold an umbrella, maybe run a few steps - no matter what, the rain will stop.

As the short film demonstrates, Demna's inspiration for this season comes from all kinds of people on the streets of Paris.

In conjunction with the short film, Balenciaga presented this season's fashion more fully with a set of lookbooks. The lookbook was shot in the apartment, and outside the window are the iconic columns and Arc de Triomphe of Place Vendôme.

The whole series includes 44 looks, which are composed of two parts: the new season ready-to-wear series and the Garde-Robe series. The latter is the "exquisite must-have wardrobe series" launched by the brand starting with the spring 23 series logo, emphasizing silhouette and tailoring. According to the current rhythm, Garde-Robe is updated once a year.

There are not too many decorative elements in the series. Black is the absolute main color. Suit jackets and coats that show tailoring skills are the top priority. The outerwear part takes into account windbreakers, denim jackets, cotton clothes, and other items that are also highly used in daily use. The inner wear is basically a hoodie and a turtleneck top, and the bottom is mainly wide-leg pants and ankle skirts. The entire collection invokes rich fabrics.

Under the general trend of highlighting the figure, Balenciaga still focuses on his own aesthetic style.

Of course, there are still many topical items; the first to bear the brunt is the bath towel skirt, and shoes and handbags also have items that can be reserved for hot searches, such as the Biker motorcycle boots made into trousers, with long and warped toes, Romeo mules, five-toed Sunday mules, rhinestone-studded 24/7 mesh bags, boot-shaped Rodeo bags, and more.

Bath Towel Skirt

Biker Moto Boots

From creative short films to fashion itself, this is a complete and mature collection. Without the filters of spectacle and provocative narratives, Demna and Balenciaga can still bring stories and products that can be interpreted and savored.