Excerpt: Balenciaga. Pre-Fall 2026 - Lookbook

 

"Pierpaolo Piccioli first lookbook collection, after his debut showing for Balenciaga, which was by all definction, quite flat and uninspiring.  Yet, excusable after Demna Gvasalia's heavy imprint on Balenciaga after 10 years, so an overnight turnaround for Piccioli would be no easy feat.  So, for Piccioli to dig around into Balenciaga's past, prior to Demna, as a retrospection for inspiration, may not come up with much.

So, it's ok to look at Demna's heavy weighted legacy of shifting Balenciaga, within his ten year tenure, to his early 1990s East European homage of DIY 'rave'/streetwear fashion and postmodern backlash styles for the iconic fashion brand (in name only), which Piccioli has indeed done for his Pre-Fall 2026 collection, whilst sleeking it up, and adding a punk rock ala mid 1970s angle to the looks.  And yes, it does work well..."

___

Full review: chiasmusmagazine.blogspot.com/2026/01/balenciaga-pre-fall-2026-lookbook.html  

(A.Glass 2026)