Demna’s Final Balenciaga Couture Collection Pursues “Perfection”

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Summary

  • Balenciaga has unveiled Demna’s final collection, with the brand’s 54th Couture show paying tribute to Paris and the evolving ethos of Cristobal Balenciaga.
  • The campaign showcased Demna’s refined take on “La Bourgeoisie” and Hollywood glamour, alongside elevated everyday items, including the first Balenciaga Couture sneaker — signaling a return to subtle elegance.

On Wednesday, I was privileged to witness Demna’s swan song collection unfold in the heart of Paris, bringing an end to his remarkable tenure spanning over a decade at this esteemed fashion house that’s stood tall for over a century.

In a personal message to guests at Balenciaga’s 54th Couture collection, Demna expressed that fashion constantly pushes toward the horizon of tomorrow, not based on current knowledge but rather the excitement of uncovering what lies ahead. This powerful statement resonates beyond Balenciaga, touching upon the very essence of fashion, which is deeply rooted in a continuous process of change and development. Demna summed up by stating that fashion serves as our desire to evolve, to comprehend change before it happens, and to style the future even before it has been identified.

The campaign honors the city where the designer embarked on his fashion career, a path that was marked by an earlier internship rejection from Balenciaga in 2007, followed by him assuming leadership in 2015. Familiar figures from the Balenciaga circle, such as Kim Kardashian, Naomi Campbell, and Thai actor Krit Amnuaydechkorn, star in this editorial, posing at diverse street corners and iconic locations around Paris.

Initially, Demna reinterprets the formal wear of the “La Bourgeoisie” with tulip collars and broad shoulders, giving it a distinct Demna touch. The strong women’s suits take on an armor-like quality, crafted from luxurious materials. Vibrant prints are used sparingly, most notably in a modern houndstooth pattern inspired by a 1967 design and a sequined floral motif reminiscent of ’50s fashion.

In due course, Kim Kardashian presents a collection influenced by classic Hollywood glamour, paying homage to Elizabeth Taylor, dressed in an off-white fur coat accessorized with a lace-edged slip dress and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.

With an increasing number of masculine styles incorporated, we’re once again reminded of Demna’s talent for reinventing the ordinary. This collection features innovations such as an ultra-lightweight silk bomber jacket, Balenciaga’s first couture sneaker crafted using traditional shoemaking methods, a laptop case transformed into a briefcase resembling a jewelry box, and illusionary corduroy fabric that adds a touch of the extraordinary to the everyday. Demna frequently elevates the commonplace by infusing it with unexpected flair, often in subtle or playful ways.

In many ways, it feels as though the designer is wiping the slate clean before Pierpaolo Piccioli of Valentino takes the post. Demna’s final spectacle for the brand is subdued, elegant, and graceful, dialing in on the finest details rather than ironic gimmicks.

“I have come as close as possible to being satisfied in this endless pursuit of impossible perfection,” he shared in an official statement, “the defining ethos of Cristóbal Balenciaga.”

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2025-07-09 18:55