Pierpaolo Piccioli made his runway debut for Balenciaga last fall, quickly proving that a new era for the Spanish-founded House was on the horizon. Now, his vision is further solidified with the debut of Balenciaga’s Pre-Fall 2026 collection, which melds the House’s history with Piccioli’s modern elegance—let’s take a look!
Known for his dreamy aesthetic and love of romanticism, Pierpaolo Piccioli’s aesthetic could not be more different from his predecessor’s, but for Pre-Fall 2026, Piccioli pays homage to the old Balenciaga, fusing hints of athleisure and streetwear with Cristóbal Balenciaga’s voluminous cuts, tailoring, and drapey capes.
Balenciaga Pre-Fall 2026 and the Power of the Archives
This collection combines technical know-how with the distinct attention to detail of the legendary Spanish couturier—a modern interpretation of luxury, if you will. Womenswear redefines who the Balenciaga woman is: elegant yet bold, and the ready-to-wear reflects this by juxtaposing sportswear pieces with more refined shapes.
Pre-Fall 2026 Accessories: Bags and Shoes to Know
As for the accessories, Pre-Fall 2026 introduces a collaboration with Manolo Blahnik: crystal slingbacks and delicate mules are paired with sporty silhouettes, further emphasizing the modern Balenciaga woman. Bags are a continuation of what was presented for Spring 2026, with the Le City further refined in a smaller, more boxy top-handle silhouette.
Classic Balenciaga moto totes are made for the girl (or guy) on the go, sitting alongside an entirely new design by Piccioli: Le 7, a top-handle silhouette defined by its relaxed zippered interior and Rodeo turnlock. View more from the collection below.
Images courtesy of Balenciaga
The Balenciaga boots remind me of the Hermes jumping boots.
Yes, but with Baleciaga’s edge. Love them!
The H Jumping boots and the Balenciaga ones are inspired by traditional riding boots–Hermès didn’t invent anything here.
You’re absolutely right, Aunt Gladys! Both clearly draw from equestrian heritage. I just found the strap detail and hardware sparked a visual association with the Jumping boots at first glance. Thanks for the clarification!
I like what I see for the most part. Take pieces from the looks and style them your way. I really like some of the bags as well! Maybe I will once again be a fan of Balenciaga!
I love a lot of them. Which one is le 7?
Love the imagery and the outerwear. The Le 7 looks like a bag I would buy (the Hermes Plume and the Loewe Amazona are favourites of mine).
So far so good. Looking forward to seeing the collection in store.
The bags are nice. The mix of PP’s elegance with Demna’s post-modern irony and Cristobal’s avant-garde shapes is certainly something. Might not be landing for me, feels very jumbled.
Fabulous! Love this latest adds! So cool 😎
I love pierpaolo but what is this disaster?
Love the coats, love the bags.
But does the styling scream “walk of shame” to anyone else?
I was going to say that I love the shoes, then I read they are Blahnik. Of course!
The huge open tote looks surprisingly attractive. I wonder how much it weighs.
I love what I’m seeing in this collection! Those flat knee high boots are definitely for me!