Who would have thought that the ugly shoe trend will be so successful over several seasons that it will be reaching its peak for S/S 2018. While Christopher Kane was the first designer to collaborate with Crocs for S/S 2017 – Balenciaga is taking the ubiquitous gardening shoe to new heights this season.
Christopher Kane S/S 2018
If you have kids, you have been there and surely decorated the iconic rubber shoes with princesses or or other little gadgets. For S/S 2018, Christopher Kane wants to prove his love for Crocs again and re-upped his own commitment by making shoes out of the rubbery material and adorning them with Swarovski crystal embellishments.
Balenciaga S/S 2018
For Balenciaga, Demna Gvasalia made a Croc version definitely a standout one with a 10 cm foam platform that is branded with Demna’s newly redesigned Balenciaga logo. But will this design change the world’s problem with Crocs? As he said at Vogue’s Forces of Fashion conference, “I think it’s very interesting, the definition of ugly. I think it’s also very interesting to find this line where ugly becomes beautiful or where beautiful becomes ugly. That’s a challenge I like. I think that’s a part of what fashion stands for and I like that people think my clothes are ugly; I think it’s a compliment.”
Balenciaga S/S 2018 Runway
Do both designers, Kane and Gvasalia, just hate feet? Or did they legit think that glitter and a gigantic platform take the prize. I mean, all of these shoes are probably comfortable to wear, but when it comes to looks, you have to admit they hardly have the refined elegance of a pair of high heels. Anyway, I am sure that I will go for them in the end… or not, we’ll see! If I buy them, I will definitely get a nasty bashing from my daughter who had to convince me over months many years ago to get her a pair of Crocs… haha, and now Mummy is considering them. How twisted it this?
Crystal embellished Crocs by Christopher Kane
New customers get 10% off with this CODE: 10FF18. Enjoy!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Balenciaga and Christopher Kane
After the fabulous and already iconic Knife boots and sequin-embellished satin pumps, Demna Gvasalia looks to Balenciaga‘s archives for inspiration for Pre-fall 2017, sifting through 30 years’ worth of founder Cristóbal‘s imagery. Exploring the link between couture and fetishism and set on a slanted kitten heel, these sharply pointed mules have been crafted in Italy from smooth satin and topped with a bow. The plunging vamp creates the illusion of longer, leaner legs. I prefer them in vivid jewel-tone colors.
Be fast as they are selling out like crazy and opt for one of the season’s most iconic silhouettes:
Emerald green satin mules (the ones I could NOT resist!)
Sky blue satin mules
Hot pink satin mules
Black satin mules
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Balenciaga
They are back! First spotted on the F/W 2016 runway, Balenciaga’s sequin-embellished satin pumps are truly a piece of art. For me, it was love at first sight.
Embellished satin pumps in blue
Everything about these shoes is perfection, the satin, the heel shape and height and of course the exquisite sequin embroidery. The only drop of bitterness is the price tag of CHF 2400!
But still another one to add to the wish list for you! Isn’t it interesting that Demna Gvasalia relaunches some of his bestsellers this season again?! It reminds me a lot of what Hedi Slimane did when he was at Saint Laurent. On one side, it is absolutely great because those expensive must-haves such those heels cannot be added to a specific season which I adore, on the other side he will have to be careful that it doesn’t get boring over time.
Embellished satin pumps in pink
Embellished satin pumps in green
Embellished satin pumps in black
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Balenciaga
Demna Gvasalia knows how to turn imitations in the opposite direction – think of his DHL T-Shirt for Vetements or the Bazar shopper for Balenciaga. His newest take on transforming a completely unsophisticated non-luxurious item into a must-have piece for fashion victims around the globe is his latest accessory for Balenciaga Men and targets originally the male customer. Playing with consumerism, he sent down the runway the so-called ‘Arena Extra-Large Shopper Tote Bag‘ which looks like a copy of the iconic IKEA‘s ‘Frakta Tote‘ in shape, size, and color.
To the left the Balenciaga for $2145.00, to the right IKEA for $0.99.
The only difference? The absence of the IKEA logo on the handles which makes sense, of course, the material (the IKEA version is made from 100% recyclable polypropylene whereas the Balenciaga tote is made of leather), and not surprisingly the price.
I would really like to get into Demna’s head, creative genius or making fun of the fashion world? I somehow tend to believe the latter. What do you think?
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Balenciaga and IKEA
At the top of everyone’s must-have list: ultra-wearable leg-lengthening boots. Spotted on Balenciaga’s S/S 2017 runway were incredible boots in fabric that everyone liked but thought those are impossible to pull off. Inspired by 80’s sportswear and fetishism, this spandex footwear, that is shiny and stretchable with a thin heel and no zip at all, is available in three versions: as a hybrid of pants and boots (so-called Cosmetic Pantashoes available on the Balenciaga homepage, but extremely difficult to wear), as over-the-knee boots and as overly cute ankle booties.
Balenciaga S/S 2017
Fact is that during Paris Fashion Week, street style stars were obssesing over Demna Gvasalia for Balenciaga Knife over-the-knee boots. Have a look at all the must-have models that are available now (just click on the highlighted link below to be transferred directly to the shop).
Knife over-the-knee boots in purple
Knife point-toe floral-print ankle boots
Knife over-the-knee boots in beige
Knife point-toe over-the-knee boots in pink
And great news is that those boots are here to stay as they were seen on Balenciaga’s F/W 2017 runway again!
Balenciaga F/W 2017
I am in love with them… stay tuned how I style them and first of all, which color I got for myself!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: via Harper’s Bazaar, @WhoWhatWearAU, @lailamagazine, @weworewhat/instagram, @moeeztali/instagram, @Popphotos
“We feel it’s inevitable and crucial to create contemporary clothing,” says Demna Gvasalia, the Creative Director of Paris design collective VETEMENTS.
The Maison Margiela alumni elevates deceptively simple pieces with meticulous construction, considered fabrics and playful proportions. Georgian Demna Gvasalia graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp in 2006. After designing womenswear for Maison Martin Margiela, he worked as head designer for Louis Vuitton womenswear. In 2014, he launched the label VETEMENTS, a design collective comprising Demna, his brother Guram and five other friends, that is based on the idea of urban cultures, the internet, everyday life on the streets and a modern wardrobe without seasonal themes.
Vetements is THE trend-setting label at the moment. Demna Gvasalia, the brainchild behind the hot fashion brand and creative director at even hotter fashion house Balenciaga, is serving up clothes that come with a healthy side dish of humor. Just think of the famous DHL T-shirt or the Polizei cap.
Just now, bigger plans have been revealed for the company. Demna and his younger brother and CEO Guram Gvasalia decided to move their headquarters and design offices to Zurich in Switzerland. How cool is that? In the former headquarters of Bernie’s Fashion that went bankrupt, Vetements has opened its doors.
Don’t miss the cult collaboration with Manolo Blahnik by clicking here that is available now!
Vetements + Manolo Blahnik printed satin pumps
Personally speaking, I love watching the hype about Vetements – still in my closet there is no piece yet. Just saying… but I absolutely adore what he does for BALENCIAGA.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Vetements and Getty Images, via Manrepeller/Hypebeast
“We feel it’s inevitable and crucial to create contemporary clothing,” says Demna Gvasalia, the Creative Director of Paris design collective Vetements.
The Maison Margiela alumni elevates deceptively simple pieces with meticulous construction, considered fabrics and playful proportions. For Vetements’ S/S 2017 collection, he put up a show that was entirely made up of collaborations with well-known brands from Manolo Blahnik to Levi’s, Juicy Couture, Carhartt, Reebok, Canada Goose, Mackintosh and Dr. Martens among others.
My favorite of the collaborations was the revival of Juicy Couture. Instead of recreating the brand’s famous velour and terry tracksuits, Demna Gvasalia gave them a modern update as second skin tops and trousers in electric colors with “Juicy Couture” written down the arms and across the bum in crystals.
Cotton-blend velour top and embellished cotton-blend velour track pants
The to-die-for maxi skirt reveals a thigh-skimming split and is lined with internal briefs. It’s made from glossy black velour inspired by Juicy Couture’s iconic tracksuits…
Embellished cotton-blend velour hooded top and cotton-blend velour maxi skirt
A real show-stopper! This black jumpsuit is made from cotton-blend velour in a one-shoulder, wide-leg silhouette. It works best with minimal accessories.
One-shoulder cotton-blend velour jumpsuit
Happy Shopping!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of the Brands
“We feel it’s inevitable and crucial to create contemporary clothing.” – Demna Gvasalia.
The Creative Director of Paris design collective Vetements and Maison Margiela alumni elevates deceptively simple pieces with meticulous construction, considered fabrics and playful proportions. Leading the fashion tribe, he set a new tone for denim with its no-hem-hemline: think cut-off, let-down, frayed and raw. With its coolness, it’s completely street style approved and worth the investment.
Reworked high-rise slim-leg jeans by Vetements
And now, aside from Vetements, it’s gone mass: J Brand, Mother, Frame and many others (see below), are going for the uneven, distressed hem.
If you don’t feel like maxing out your budget on a pair of denim jeans, I suggest taking your scissors to create your own frayed style. For all others have fun shopping!
LoL, Sandra
Distressed mid-rise straight-leg jeans
by Steve J & Yoni P
Insider cropped high-rise slim-leg jeans by Mother
Distressed mid-rise slim-leg jeans by Facetasm
Carolina high-rise skinny jeans by J Brand
Le Crop Mini frayed mid-rise bootcut jeans by Frame
Photos: Courtesy of the Brands and via Tommy Ton
Love it or leave it: Balenciaga’s first new bag, the Bazar Shopper, from designer Demna Gvasalia, who is also one of the co-founders of upcoming cult fashion brand Vetements. When he was appointed to the French brand months ago, fashionista were looking forward to seeing what his first bag would look like and it was quite a surprise.
His ‘Bazar’ collection is inspired by sampeng bags – striped shoppers traditionally used in the markets of Thailand.
Bazar striped textured-leather tote by Balenciaga
Bazar medium grained-leather tote by Balenciaga
But Balenciaga is not the first one to come up with a plastic shopping bag being transformed into something high end in leather. Do you remember the Louis Vuitton S/S 2007 collection?
I leave it to you if you like it or not… I got the Vuitton one nine years ago as a piece for my little “museum“…. and now I am thinking about the Bazar shopper. I like it!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of © Balenciaga, © Louis Vuitton and © Instagram/Icerati
