It's easy to put a chair on the head and be like, ‘That's unwearable art,’” designer Demna said. “I just wanted to make my standard.”

Balenciaga is no stranger to spectacle, and Demna has built his reputation on turning the ordinary into the extreme. But this season, the brand's it-designer pulled back, choosing precision over provocation.

There were hardcore moments in this Balenciaga show, but fewer than in the past, and a less bombastic set: A maze of tall black curtains sheltering tight rows of chairs, meaning VICs had to tuck in their feet,

The countdown to Paris Fashion Week fall 2025 officially commenced last September, when dual announcements came out that Sarah Burton and Haider Ackermann were taking the helms of Givenchy and Tom Ford,

At Paris Fashion Week, Demna unveils a collection that’s as sharp as it is practical.