Getting Dirty With Balenciaga

Fashion shows and their pieces have always been open to interpretation. May it be an optical illusion, a certain color scheme, or a musical guest, fashion shows never disappoint. On the other hand, Demna, Balenciaga’s creative director, decided to bring in 9,700 cubic feet of black mud from a French peat bog. This mud covered all surfaces including the walls, aisle and runway. This masterpiece was courtesy of artist Santiago Sierra. The air reeked of decomposing mud, which ultimately created Demna’s goal of the show to be about “digging for the truth and being down to earth,” hence the mud-filled runway.

The first to walk the runway was a smiling Kanye West. He was decked out in a bulky ‘security’ jacket with massive pockets. This jacket was paired with leather pants, a Balenciaga baseball hat and a mouthguard. 

Another notable name featured on the runway was Bella Hadid. She was wearing an oversized zip-up paired with studded shoes. She also carried a stuffed animal bag that resembled a skunk. Hadid was featured in 11 Paris Fashion Week shows including Coperni, Givenchy, Miu Miu and Isabel Marant. She was the highlight of fashion week and did a great job of changing her model walks to tailor to the designer’s goals. 

The attention to detail in both the makeup department and the outfit choices pulled together the show. Demna’s craftsmanship shined through during this show, and his goal of showing that fashion is up to interpretation was noted. This show required guests and models alike to really dig deep and get their hands dirty. Demna took his show to the next level and set a precedent in the fashion world.