It is hard to talk about luxury fashion houses without paying homage to legendary Basque designer Cristóbal Balenciaga and his brand Balenciaga.
Balenciaga has passed the test of time. Recognized as one of the world’s most historic and longest-running fashion companies, the brand is widely considered a pioneer in transforming the notion of design and clothing.
But don’t mistake the maturity of Balenciaga for the atypical long in the tooth, grey-haired approach to clothing. It’s a far cry from that. Balenciaga’s founding principle of reinventing the fashion scene has been emphasized throughout the brand’s existence. Georgian fashion designer and creative director of the brand Demna Gvasalia has had this principle at the heart of his approach since his appointment in 2015.
The hallmark of the brand has always been minimalism. A core principle that has been a part of the brand’s strategy to garment design for years. A focus on proportions has also been encouraged; often accentuating an oversized fit. Perfect for an on-trend layered look.
For the last few years, we have seen a spike in the sale of vintage wear on platforms such as Depop and eBay. Especially sportswear. Balenciaga’s Fall/Winter 2020 runway show presented lots of pieces inspired by greatest sport known to humankind. Football (he he!). And to all our lovely friends across the pond, we’re not talking about the American kind involving an egg-shaped ball (appropriately coined egg-ball by many Brits).
Balenciaga’s opulent and lavish approach to a traditional football jersey features all the archetypal essentials that we expect. Just with a bit more oomph. The Soccer T-shirt in a black and white sporty mesh jersey is made from 100% polyester, cut wide and boxy; with drop shoulders and an elevated collar. The design features large “Balenciaga” sponsorship on the front and back which takes inspiration from retro football jerseys from the early 90s.
Arguably the most iconic release up for grabs is the Soccer Sneaker in black and white technical polyurethane. Contrasting from traditional football boots which are classically made from leather, these sneakers are made from technical, leather free materials that have been modified for frequent use. Featuring an elongated tongue and detailed stitching throughout, these are truly a nod to Adidas Predator Absolute which was originally released in 2006. Unfortunately for £495 we would probably expect a bit more from the most expensive shoe in the world.
Social media was quick to express their negative opinions on Balenciaga’s latest release. One Twitter user described the shoes as “lost property boots at the back of the school cupboard.” Another user claimed Hi-Tec (a clothing retailer known more for garments based around racquet sports) could make better looking boots. Clearly some mixed reviews.
If you’re not in the market for Balenciaga’s sportswear inspired pieces (probably most of you) feel free to check our wide range of Balenciaga menswear and womenswear available instore and online at DPUS.