Balenciaga’s creative director Demna Gvasalia has been known for creating some outlandish bags in his 4+ years designing for the brand. There was the fancy Ikea shopping bag tote, and the pre-graffitied City Bag. A few seasons ago, Gvasalia introduced the brand’s new all-logo-everything aesthetic, which thanks to its bold lettering, is impossible to forget.
Though more recently Gvasalia has toned down the logo elements in his designs, new silhouettes still bear branding that isn’t very hard to spot. Take the Hourglass bag for example, which though cleaner in design is still characterized by its dangling ‘B’ logo hardware in addition to its unique shape.
Balenciaga’s logo bags have become a staple amongst the fashion crowd, though many who once loved the brand’s bags (hello City bag lovers!) have shied away from Gvasalia’s logo-driven direction. Logo-fatigue is a real thing, and while some consumers have been feeling it for a long time, Balenciaga’s latest bag indicates that Gvasalia himself is feeling it as well. The Balenciaga Ghost bag is brand new for SS20, featuring a sleek silhouette and virtually zero branding. The name itself seems to be a play on the brand’s old aesthetic as a bold B or a BALENCIAGA logo is not visible here, much like a friendly ghost.
The Ghost bag was first spotted on the runway at the brand’s SS20 show last October. Immediately fans were intrigued by the standout new design, which we now know as the Ghost bag. Its structured shape features a short, adjustable shoulder strap, a small flap closure and accordion gusseted sides. The design overall gives off a clean, effortless look and possesses a cool-girl, vintage vibe.
The Ghost bag is available in a few different iterations from smooth neutral leathers to shiny exotic-effect leathers. This design is refreshingly different from what we’ve seen from the house of Balenciaga in the past few years, indicating a possible shift in both Gvasalia’s overall vision as well as consumer demand. View more versions of Balenciaga’s brand new bag below and let us know what you think!
Balenciaga Ghost Croc Effect Medium Shoulder Bag ($1,750)
Balenciaga Ghost Lizard Effect Medium Shoulder Bag ($1,750)
Balenciaga Ghost Large Shoulder Bag Shiny Calfskin ($1,950)
