excerpt: Balenciaga. Resort 2026 - Lookbook

 

"...Resort 2026 sets a precedence of Demna's astuness for crafting and defining his original take on Balenciaga, which at times there were hits and misses.  The lookbook offers some of the finest cuts to date, and with five Couture shows under his belt, with a 6th coming up in early July, despite his leaning towards the backlash of fashion, there is no doubt that he has also shown a respectful acknowledgement to the legacy of Cristóbal Balenciaga.

Demna's final lookbook for Balenciaga under resort, his not groundbreaking nor particularly outstanding, but as an impression of his 10 year legacy with the Balenciaga brand name, shows that his repetition, within context of Demna own take on mastery, has created a strange type of template that the next designer, who will be Pierpaolo Piccioli, of Valentino fame, will need to best.  Can a couturier like Piccioli, maintain Demna's backlash styles?  And will Demna be able to redefine Gucci, a somewhat cursed fashion brand, into his backlash style?  With his ragtag team of models in tow?  Only time will tell." 

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Full review: chiasmusmagazine.blogspot.com/2025/06/balenciaga-resort-2026-lookbook.html

(A.Glass 2025)