Always a Paris Fashion Week highlight, on October 1 Demna presented his Spring Summer 2024 collection for Balenciaga. Here's all the details, from our favourite looks to the people present.
Tell me about the collection?
Demna's recent collections for Balenciaga are underscored by an earnestness, a willingness to be vulnerable to his global audience. In the past, the creative director has spoken about what fashion means to him, and has reflected on his earliest relationships with clothes. He doubles down on the craft of fashion for Spring Summer 2024 and upcycling plays a large role in the garments presented. Gowns were crafted from upcycled pieces sourced from vintages shops across Europe and the US, biker jackets are pieced together from deadstock leather, and, for the final look, Demna dug into the Balenciaga archives and constructed a bridal gown from seven bridal looks prior to the year 2000, which was modelled by his husband, musician BFRND.
This devotion to crafted was further pointed to with the soundtrack, in which Isabelle Huppert read instructions on how to make a tailored jacket from the manual La Veste Tailleur Homme.
Who walked the show?
Demna set the tone for the show when his mother, Ella, stepped out in the first look. The creative director cites her as his first style inspiration. Later, fashion stalwarts like critic Cathy Horyn, along with Amanda Lepore, Gigi Spelsberg, Minttu Vesala and Julia Nobis stepped out into the theatrical red velvet showspace – Demna quite literally giving a platform to all the people who have supported him and influenced his work.
It was also a momentous occasion in that it was the first time curve models walked for Balenciaga, featuring faces like Paloma Elsesser and French musician Yseult.
See our favourite looks below
Here are some of the standout looks from the Balenciaga Spring Summer 2024 collection.