This season’s Balenciaga collection was all about inventive cuts, angles, and shapes, and a looser, more relaxed silhouette. All of the collection’s elements, however, still played into creative director Nicholas Ghesquière‘s signature refined sportswear-meets-punk-futurism aesthetic. Florals made their return in the Fall 2011 collection, notably in a series of knee-length skirts, and there was a notable extended play with color blocking.
The designer did a beautiful job at working with volume, contrasting skin tight pants and looser fitting cocktail dresses, for example, and he showed off his technical savvy when it comes to working with fabric. Particularly memorable were the faux leather panels that popped up on tops and skirts (where they also lined the bottom), and a stunning two-toned quilted vest. Zipper-like embellishments and sheer panels on tops were also notable in creating multi-dimensional effects to a collection that was at once statement-making, while never sacrificing its wearability.
Photos: Vincenzo Grillo, IMAXtree.
