His departure from Balenciaga was reportedly related to label holding company PPR‘s efforts to push the brand in a more commercial direction. Where Ghesquière envisioned a future for Balenciaga that was all obscure and arthouse by way of boxy silhouettes and Kristen Stewart, PPR wanted something way more saleable. They wanted unicorns and car commericals and my cat Carl and a pineapple in a bikini and Gwyneth Paltrow wearing a bermuda hat on an African safari vacation. Those corporate suits wouldn’t recognize art if they saw it walking down a Balenciaga runway show!
So, we have two big questions. No, maybe three. Let’s make it four, just to be safe? (Speculative answers included as parentheses.)
1. What’s next for Nicolas Ghesquière?
(According to Suzy Menkes, maybe his own brand with PPR rival LVMH. The company’s CEO, Bernard Arnault, is said to have offered Ghesquière his own house, which would be overseen by one of Arnault’s children — either his daughter Delphine or son Antoine.)
2. What’s next for Balenciaga?
(No one really knows, but PPR CEO Isabelle Guichot wants to move quickly and waste as little time as possible finding a replacement designer. So she can get back in the business of dressing pineapples in bikinis. “We have a short list,” she told WWD.)
3. What’s next for Kristen Stewart?
(She’ll be fine.)
4. Why don’t people talk more about how Nicolas Ghesquière is so, so beautiful?
(His Google Image search results. YOU’RE WELCOME.)
Image via Getty
