One of the most important bag launches of the year, Balenciaga revived the original City bag earlier this year, bringing with it nostalgia like no other. The classic City was back.
Few bags have reached ultimate icon status in the way that the Balenciaga City bag has. It has remained a beloved part of the Balenciaga line-up for years, long after the era of the It-bag. Intertwined with Balenciaga’s core DNA, the brand is closing out the year of the classic Balenciaga Le City with brand new campaign images captured by Lauren Greenfield.
AN ODE TO AN ICON
Referencing the unmistakable air of excitement and energy of a Balenciaga runway show, the campaign recreates the Balenciaga front row. Images star a diverse mix of fashion icons such as models Paloma Elsesser, Mika Schneider, and Sua Lee, along with mega-influencers Devon Lee Carlson, Pernille Teisbaek, Dixie D’Amelio, Olympia of Greece, and more.
The Balenciaga Le City in its original form was originally introduced in 2001, and Greenfield wanted to capture the essence of its origins. Rarely-seen before-the-show moments are evocative of pre-show footage from early-aughts fashion television channels. Guests are seen chatting amongst themselves, posing for photos, and checking their phones, waiting for the lights to dim.
The Le City helped to define a specific era in fashion, and while the bag is the star of the show, the looks are the supporting actors. The same Y2K vibe that oozes from the Le City is fused into the looks shown in the campaign.
Shown in petal pink, camel, black, green, and white Arena Storico lambskin and metalized silver Arena lambskin, the Le City is the ultimate fashion meets function carryall. Its detailed 25-panel construction further amplifies its maximalist details.
An icon of a generation then, the Le City continues to be a staple in the handbag world. With the return of the classic, it’s now also defining a new era of fashion. Discover the range of sizes and colors via Balenciaga.
No… just no.
Cheers to a long awaited return! I loved this bag in 2004, and I love it just as much in 2024.
Its not the bag. It is the horrible people behind the Company. Did you not see the pictures in the campaign???
Truly an icon. I know the love for the City never left, but I’m glad they’re being produced again. This bag brings back core memories of my teen years and is the reason I became obsessed with fashion. I hope that now it is being produced again it will give the younger generation that same giddy feeling I had almost 20 years ago and that I have now seeing its return.
Have we just forgotten what they were trying to promote with kids and what they really
are about!
You mean the ads that were completely blown out of proportion in a 1980’s style satanic panic?
WOMP WOMP. I think what is creepier is the people deriving crimes against children from something like that campaign that had no intent of doing so. Seek help.
No thanks
Love this bag! So effortlessly chic. I had to go in waitlist at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus to get the new metallic silver version and finally got it after 2 months of waiting. I feel like the ultimate cool girl when I wear it.
There is definitely no waitlist for anything Balenciaga anymore…
Are there bots on the website?
There actually is or was a waitlist for the silver. I wanted the City in silver metallic as well, but in the large size, Bergdorf didn’t have it, and my SA offered to place me on the waitlist, but I went with the mini City in silver instead cause it was readily available, and I wanted something silver for a specific outfit. 😂
There is a waitlist for rodeo bag in Asia, the brand is as popular as ever. Queen Letizia recently wore Balenciaga gown, that ad story was blown out of proportion. I don’t think target audience ever paid attention to it.
There was when I wanted the silver metallic. They had sold out and had to take names to fulfill orders.
Penny, you seem really pressed about this bag. It’s a bag, it’s not that deep….
Great bag!
Love it ! Kept several of my Bal cities and still love and carry. Daughter #2 has “borrowed a couple” and she really rocks them.
Your photo is so sweet! Thank you for sharing!
I love the bag, but I wish for this campaign they could have gotten some of the original Balenciaga City divas in this ad instead of the TikToker Dmelio girl and the other influencers. This ad needs Kate Moss, the Olsen twins, Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan, Nicky Hilton, Sienna Miller, etc etc etc sitting in the front row. It would probably be expensive to do, and impossible considering the Olsens are essentially recluses now, but it would be as iconic as this bag.
I have not forgotten how rotten this Company is. I sold mine. Couldnt look at it.
Everyone looks so bored.
The bag looks fine and I can see why people would want one. BUT since it (deliberately) looks distressed even when brand new, I would buy a preloved one in very good condition and save myself a significant amount of $$$
The problem is finding ones in very good condition. I really wanted a green one like what Mary-Kate Olsen has, but the conditions of the ones on the resale market is atrocious and the prices are still insane for the condition. I caved and bought the new one.
Pre-distressed bags do seem silly, but they have been around forever and have become increasingly popular. The Chanel Reissue is “aged,” LV’s Soft Speedy is the same, Dior has done variations of pre-distressed bags. It sounds silly, but I find comfort in knowing it isn’t on its last leg and it’s not hanging on by a thread. 😂
pass