Balenciaga Summer 21 Pre-Collection

Recontextualized concepts stress the importance of unconventional beauty within garments. With a plissé soleil track skirt tracksuit, a shoelace-fur coat, intricately tailored outwear, reconstructed sweaters, and sweatpants used as headwear, this collection is inventive, yet it harkens back to the known principles of the Balenciaga brands.

Of course, with any Balenciaga show, the accessories scream for our attention. The staple Neo Classic Bag is distressed and “destroyed” in tribute to its 20th anniversary. The Ville Bag comes in soft leather for the first time and an hourglass Bag covered with faux shearling. Also new to the Balenciaga brand and sneaker family is the X-Pander. With a classic runner upper mounted on springy soles, the heels expand with each step to achieve a bouncier stride. The Rhino Derby features a pyramid-shaped toe and extra chunky sole as well.

When it’s all said and done, Balenciaga shines a light on the streets of Paris during fashion week.