The Brilliance of Balenciaga

When it comes to fashion ads, I’ve always appreciated the creative artwork of Balenciaga.  Unlike most advertisements, especially fashion, their ads never focus solely on the model.  Rather, they focus on the clothes and have an element of surrealism that takes away from the corporate in-your-face way of selling.  I can’t help but stare and wonder where the inspiration came from to create such beauty.  I always refer to their ads when I need some artistic fuel and I somehow never tire of them.  For the past few years I’ve been pulling Balenciaga ads out of magazines and adding them to my collection of tearsheets.  One of my first posts was of the first image below – the collage.   There’s something so ’60s about it – it’s trippy and bohemian and very magpie all at the same time.   I remember obsessing over those green pants and buying a similar version made by Joie that I wore with Helmut Lang Heels and a Theory blazer in the early 2000s.   It’s my most favorite ad ever.   It would be such a relief to see a change from all those super sensual, overtly sexy, “look at me I’m a rich jet-setter” ads to something more imaginative and not so over-stylized.

Here are a few Balenciaga ads I’ve gathered over the years.  I wish I knew of the seasons, but I’m kind of glad I’m not that anal.

The Wish List Does Not End

By now everyone is probably sick and tired of hearing about fashion week, but I’ve been feeling guilty about not finishing my recap from a few weeks ago and I promised myself I would finish it before this week begins.  I’ve been lagging on the posts lately due to an insane workload, but now I’m back and I’m feeling optimistic about things.  I can’t stand that feeling of being overworked, but when I finally get a moment to collect my thoughts an reflect, I feel like it’s all paid off.  I love the sense of accomplishment.  

 I have a never ending wish list it seems.  I am not greedy or selfish or consumed by consumerism in any way, but there are so many beautiful things I wish I could get my hands on.  Especially after seeing all this madness:

Hannah Macgibbon’s take on the Chloe girl.  I am feeling it.  Red leather shorts?  YES.

The scallops remind me of paper dolls and arts and crafts.

I’m very much into hunter green right now.  

The whole rock & roll western theme going on at Givenchy didn’t wow me.  But I did love the suits.

And the western tie.  I just bought a vintage one last weekend.  In hunter green, of course.

The bags and shoes at Louis Vuitton were heavily praised, but I was more into the clothes and the jewelry.

As always, the Alexander McQueen show was a journey.  I’m completely in love with this dress.  The details alone are remarkable.  It reminds me of a burlesque costume.

If I were ever to take a trip to space, I would wear this.

I wonder how long it took to construct these cut-outs.

Something else I’m really into right now: ethereal dresses in white.  Perhaps with a signature McQueen skull.

Sonia Rykiel created dresses for fairies and princesses.  It was her 40th anniversary.

 Alessandra Facchinetti of Valentino paid her respects wit this show stopping number.  I want it.

I love these VPL pants for fall.  And this amazing necklace designed by Lizzie Fortunato.

My favorite thing about this YSL ensemble is the proportions.  The cropped top, the high-waisted pant, and the short, boxy jacket.

Blood red sequins at YSL

YSL – a little bit demure, a little bit sexy

Crushing Hard On…..

3.1 Phillip Lim: Everything is perfect about this.  Pink and red, a side swept bun, ruffled shoes, an exaggerated belt, and menswear-inspired silhouettes.

Peep-toe fringe booties.  I’m all over these.

Balmain: Ripped stone-washed jeans that cling to the body and embellished psychedelic swirls.

The perfect dress to party all night in.

Sgt. Pepper Jacket

Christopher Kane: Scalloped leather and leopard print.  Sooooo amazing.

Screaming Gorilla.  Genius.  I swear this dress was made for me.

Brilliant androgyny

Pastel Princess

Charles Anastase: Lovely magpie 

This dress blows my mind.  A little Vivienne Westwood?

Ann Demeulemeester: The right amount of draping and deconstruction.

Something about wearing beige and red together makes me feel like I work at Target.  But this would probably change my mind.

Boy by Band of Outsiders: Khaki shorts and a tuxedo blazer never looked so good.

On my wish list for spring: A white suit

To Be Continued….