The end of an era: Demna's final show for Balenciaga
Divas, Parisian bourgeoisie, and sculptural minimalism bid a cool farewell.
After a decade spent at the Spanish master's house, Demna bid farewell to the audience with his couture collection in his usual style.
The clean and elegant collection (in Demna's style, of course) featured oversized suits, sculptural dresses, and the ugly beauty of "jolie laide" in a typical Parisian bourgeois style. This was actually the cornerstone of the collection – "La Bourgeoisie" with monumental tailoring elements, tulip lapels, high collars, and structured necklines in the style of Medici and Nosferatu.

Friends of the house were also in attendance – Kim Kardashian transformed into Elizabeth Taylor from the film Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in a cream dress and feather "fur coat," symbolizing Demnov's obsession with the golden age of Hollywood and his undying love for "divas." Incidentally, the jewelry Kardashian wore originally belonged to Taylor herself and was lent to the show by Lorraine Schwartz.
Naomi Campbell shone in a black sequined gown, and Isabelle Huppert was in her element in black corset pants and a couture turtleneck. And Eva Herzigová? She wore a neon yellow satin gown with padded hips. Danielle Slavik, a model who worked for the house in the 1960s, the last years before it closed in 1968, was also at the show. She wore a black and white skirt suit, one of the founder's archive looks from 1967.

One of the few non-monochrome looks – a floral print on a sequined women's suit and handbag – dated back to 1957 and was meant to evoke Demna's grandmother's kitchen tablecloth from his childhood.
His oversized suits also had an interesting story this time around – he teamed up with a Neapolitan tailor to tailor a suit for his show for a bodybuilder who appeared as a model. The precision of the Italian cut was so amazing that he used the same template for all the men's suits in the show.

Those who did not receive an invitation to the catwalk were seated in the front row – Cardi B, Nicole Kidman, Katy Perry, Michelle Yeoh, and the newly minted "Mrs. Bezos," Lauren Sánchez. And those who didn't get any attention were at least mentioned in the soundtrack, which included thanks to everyone on Demna's team who helped him realize his vision during the last decade at the helm of the house.

November 18, 2025