Paris Fashion Week has been nothing shy of exciting. In the latest highlight of the iconic fashion week, Balenciaga took an unconventional approach to its Spring/Summer 2022 show. Models mixed with celebrities flooded the red carpet, also the runway for the latest collection. An excited crowd of fans and photographers could be heard as models strutted the carpet and posed in the Summer 2022 pieces that were indeed red-carpet and street-style ready. Essentially, guests were modeling all the while participating in the traditional Hollywood-style occasion. Figures like Lewis Hamilton, Offset, Elliot Page, Amber Valletta, and more were among the models for the show. Other familiar faces were in attendance, including Cardi B and her stylist Kollin Carter, Michele Lamy, and Naomi Campbell.
Pushing boundaries by combining fashion and pop cultural entertainment, the Summer 2022 presentation included screening a special collaborative episode between Balenciaga and the animated comedy show The Simpsons, a show creative director Demna Gvasalia has always loved. The 10-minute viewing takes place during Marge Simpson’s birthday, of which Homer Simpson requested a Balenciaga gown to fulfill her longtime wish of having a piece from the brand.
The gesture influenced an animated Gvasalia to include everyday people from Springfield in his next show, which the Simpson family models in. The exclusive episode includes many humorous references, such as Kim Kardashian and Kanye West in the front row wearing their 2020 Halloween costumes, Anna Wintour shedding a tear that is reserved for a perfume bottle of “Wintour No. 9”, and jokes surrounding Balenciaga’s prices and the pronunciation of the brand’s name. There are also appearances of pieces from past Balenciaga collections shown in the visual.
Balenciaga’s Summer 2022 collection not only offered a playful take on fashion, but it showed that the brand indeed cannot be placed in a box when it comes to the actual pieces and even presentations. The 64-piece collection continues the Balenciaga aesthetic of reimagined ready-to-wear with silhouettes that cling to the body or drape slightly off due to its oversized nature. While the color palette was muted, pops of pinks and blues matched with shimmering silver foil-like material and vibrant prints like polka dots made for standout details. Also, accessories became known as the brand introduced new and reinterpreted footwear, eyewear, handbags, and jewelry. A new metal-studded platform Balenciaga x Croc shoe made its way down the red carpet and runway as a part of their ongoing collaboration.
Explore more moments from Balenciaga’s Summer 2022 show below:
Thoughts? You can view the Balenciaga Summer 2022 runway and an exclusive The Simpsons episode on YouTube.
Photos: Balenciaga / Tomas Herold
