Balenciaga Spring Summer 2008

Balenciaga Spring Summer 2008

After that amazing Spring 2008 Balenciaga show last year with sculptural silhouettes, prominent hips, shoulders and gladiator shoes, this is what the grand house of Balenciaga is offering at the stores now. Explain these 'watered-down' versions..

The white and blue dress ain't that bad... though a little Carolina Herrera/Oscar de la Renta for my taste.
It's one thing to have showpieces (I know lots of designers have runway pieces and retail versions) but please EXPLAIN the strapless green floral dress and the pink thing below.

Photos via Browns

This is worrying, no? What gives?

Comments

[Adamo]

Well, I know the runway looks where very avant-garde and super innovative, but I don't think they were commercial enough to be financially successful.

The market is rich ladies, and although I found the runway pieces artistic and spectacular, I think they were a bit too masculine for the demographic, especially the sculpted shoulder.

I don't think 35+ rich ladies would wear the runway pieces, but they might wear those "watered down" versions, although some of the pieces are too loud, I think they will sell except for that long dress and that middle monstrosity in the bottom. I think the issues with those pieces is that the silhouette probably looks better on a body, my favorite is the top right one.

But, I agree with you on the top BB, UBER SIGH. But Balenciaga makes a lot of basics, so I am not too surprised.

[Adamo]

Well, I know the runway looks where very avant-garde and super innovative, but I don't think they were commercial enough to be financially successful.

The market is rich ladies, and although I found the runway pieces artistic and spectacular, I think they were a bit too masculine for the demographic, especially the sculpted shoulder.

I don't think 35+ rich ladies would wear the runway pieces, but they might wear those "watered down" versions, although some of the pieces are too loud, I think they will sell except for that long dress and that middle monstrosity in the bottom. I think the issues with those pieces is that the silhouette probably looks better on a body, my favorite is the top right one.

But, I agree with you on the top BB, UBER SIGH. But Balenciaga makes a lot of basics, so I am not too surprised.

[CD]

I saw those sculptural silhouettes seen on models and Jennifer Connelly at the Balenciaga boutique in New York. Super gorgeous up close! The prints look better in person.

[ALinkPerPost]

OMG! love the dresses!!!!! ahlaaaaavet!

[cooper]

i thought the runway looks wuld hae sold like a bitch on fire,
but these, not so much...

[Ali]

WTF?!?! It's like they turned the world's most hideous magenta patterned tablecloths into clothing!

I might wear the blue and white thing, but I wouldn't pay more than $40 for it at Zara. And then after a week of having it in my closet I would have to get rid of it because I would feel like I was being transported into the 1950s, in a bad way. And it, too, matches the tablecloth thing... because it looks like old dishes from the 1900s.

[sngirl]

These things remind me strongly of those dowdy old clothes from the last century (mostly the 1950s), easily found in any average vintage clothing store, that are so passé they are actually kind of chic, because they are so... different. The problem is, they are unavoidably costumey when actually worn, and the smell of them is often rather yucky. And no amount of drycleaning can update that scrathy fabric and faded hues.

Though I have not seen the actual clothes (me being in another 3rd world country haha), judging from the lines and proportions shown here, M. Ghesquière has done some subtle updating on these "vintages" to give them a contemporary fit but without losing that vintage appeal.

Admittedly, these pieces are meant for those with both an inherent elegance and a knowing eye and are not for your average housewife or cheerleader, but neither are these people capable of not cheapening any classic Chanel or the hippest MJ pieces anyway...

Nonetheless, these are perhaps the toughest test on personal elegance and poise I've seen in my 13 years of life on Earth so far... (I'm young! heeheehee!)

[silje]

This reminds me a lot of my grandma's wardrobe.

[e]

Just WHO are these people saying that these dresses are ugly? I am a paying Balenciaga client and have worn them for many seasons now. I am well familiar with the cut and quality of Mr Ghesquiere's clothes. They are always exquisite to say the least, in terms of refinement, and sheer luxury of materials.

There is NO WAY the catwalk pieces, looking like robot-wear, would have sold sufficiently to be profitable. And besides, the runway these days is more a showcase of moods and ideas, rather than actual selling clothes.

I think all the pieces BB has shown will be exquisite when viewed upclose esp when worn. They remind me of 1980s Ungaro. I love them all! The halter top is the least appealing to me, but I am sure that on the right girl, it too could be quite smashing.

[Genesis]

These are yuck. Vomits!

[Vannie]

these are ugly bryan....are these for real?

[Angelique]

Truly hideous.

[Paul Bryan Garcia]

Our table cloth and silk curtains will look like haute coutures beside those... I dunnowhat they are!?!

[erunesto]

Ugh the collection sucks hate everything about it, it's like my grandma's curtain

[william]

A few of those are actually Pre Spring 2008 pieces and the reason these are 'watered down' is because not many stores will buy Balenciaga's $4,000 a piece jackets, shorts, and dresses. Barney's has some as well as Balenciaga in New York and Los Angeles, but you must keep in mind it is also about exclusivity.

[edrick]

it's so sayang. i was quite expecting who could pull off the runway looks and translate into realite. tsk.

[something_picasso]

first two on the 2nd row look nice, but overall I'm not a fan

[vishan]

the only one i really love is the fourth piece...still has that balenciaga 2007 a/w feeling to it !! :) ... i wish i could wear one :( !!!!

[bang]

That's just terrible. I HATE it when designers show clothes on the runway only for them to be different at the stores.

WHY BOTHER?

Cathy Horyn wrote about those Halston/Net-a-Porter dresses and it was awful.

That Balenciaga halter top is too disgusting beyond words.

[bta]

They Remind me of what Kurdish Nomads wear ( women ). Eh..... I see why he got excited....but they don`t excite me.

[patrice]

dress #1 is vomit-inducing.

that's just foul!

[jeanine]

the 3rd dress on the first row looks so CHEAP!!!!!!!!

CHEAP!!!!!!!!!!!

CHEAP!!!!

[CMW.]

This is NOT like Balenciaga at all?! What gives?! This really is hideous! :(

[CMW.]

This is NOT like Balenciaga at all?! What gives?! This really is hideous! :(

[js]

ew
thats 'safe' buying on Browns' part though I think
www.matchesfashion.com have a couple of the beautiful lace-up dresses that were on the catwalk (check page 5 of the lookbook at that beauutiful chinese print version http://www.matchesfashion.com/lookbook/designer/balenciaga/page/5/# they also have a several versions of the gladiator heels/sandals)

[Annya]

The green dress looks like drapes from the 80's. The earlier structural pieces were hot but not mainstream enough and its all about money. These pieces could have been hotter but they're missing that extra something. These just don't look expensive or remotely luxurious.

But look on the bright side Balenciaga fall '08 collection is just oh so chic.

[M. Andersen]

Eeew! Why make such a strong runway show and then replace everything with these boring dresses?

[babyV]

i dont noooo gurl
its the era of big shoulders so why did they shy out???
i woulda rocked the bubble shoulders
whatevs!!!
yesss and that ugly pink p.o.s looks like its from hot topic or something

[anjelica]

hey brian,
non-balenciaga related comment:
i heard marc and jason called it quits.
oh my god i just got so excited. marc and bryanboy= marcboy?

[Stevie]

Hmm, personally I rather like the green strapless, I could totallly rock it! (hahh)
But a halterneck? Balenciaga have a HALTERNECK?
Say it isn't so..

[katzi]

the prints and color palette of this collection soooooooooooo screams late 80s (NOT good). ;-p

[mahret]

This IS worrying! I want sculptural silhouettes!!!