Demna Gvasalia has been designing for Balenciaga for three and a half year years now, and in that time his designs for the brand have become street style staples. Fans of the brand have come to expect logo heavy collections and quirky bags designed to make a statement. And while Balenciaga’s logo bags have become a staple amongst the fashion crowd, Gvasalia’s latest designs are flipping the switch. For Spring 2020, the designer presented a sleek collection, filled with new bag designs and minimal branding.
The standout new design presented on the runway was a chic, structured bag with a short shoulder strap. Models carried the bag by hand, which has a small flap closure and accordion gusseted sides. There were both smooth leather versions as well as textured leathers in what appear to be embossed lizard and croc. Personally, I’m drawn to this design, and I like the fresh new direction that Gvasalia is taking. Another notable new shape is a smaller flap bag, also with a short shoulder strap. This design features a bit more branding, with a ‘B’ lock hanging from the bag’s closure. Despite the presentation of sleek new designs, there were a few designs that remained true to Balenciaga’s brand DNA. The quirkiest design came in the form of a top handle bowler bag with a Hello Kitty design. It was presented alongside hand carried clutch bags with the bold ‘Balenciaga’ graphic fans have come to expect. View the entire collection below.
[images via Vogue Runway]
I love the simplicity and classic lines of the structured bag with the short strap.
love it. Now you’re talking.. I was starting to despair about handbags the last few years. It’s nice to have something that’s actually presentable for the office or a night out..
This is a great collection! But why do I like the Hello Kitty bags so much? I am in my 50’s for gods sake! I wouldn’t buy one, but they are so cute. The rest I would buy and carry in a minute.
I think themed bags are an embarrassment to the brand. Hello Kitty? Really? Excuse my language, but what grown ass woman would purchase these? Then, Gucci has Mickey Mouse bags for a cool $4,500? C’mon, now!!
I’m there with you! But I see a lot of grown up women loving Mickey mouse, Bambi, Hello kitty and what’s not. I have no idea why but it’s a fact! Lol
Boring with the exception of the triangle clutches.
The Hello Kitty bags are ridiculous.
I SO want to rock one of the Hello Kitty bags along with the most childish outfit on me. Senile is the new black!
Oh my gosh!! LOL ?
Sorry to say but I notice a lack of imagination in the latest collections. Generally speaking and I refer to the whole world of bags in fashion. Let’s not talk about “our Gucci” (I’m italian from Milan), which has become unwatchable with this mad, furious designer who makes horrible, never-before-seen sketches (I regret the times of Tom Ford). This collection by G. is old and neither skills or talents. As above said…
Hey don’t bang Hello Kitty! (Says the lady with Hello Kitty smart phone!)
“Bang” your bag? I doubt it. It doesn’t have that type of appeal. 🙂
I really like the first bag in all its different versions.
I hate the bags with the big logos.
Who other than Asian teens is going to wear these Hello Kitty bags? That’s just trash.
A pretty good collection with the exception of the Hello Kitty bags. They look luxurious and timeless which are two qualities I generally look for in my bags.
Beautiful, classy and understated.
I know 2 people who would love the Hello Kitty bags. First, is my 4 year old granddaughter, who loves kittens and anything pink. Secondly, is my 35 year old co-worker whose fiancee threw her a blowout Hello Kitty themed birthday party, which she loved. I could never buy anything Hello Kitty, or that cat who waves it’s paw, since they are eerily creepy and their appeal is lost on me.