Balenciaga just stepped into a new dimension of casual chaos. Demna’s personal stash of lived-in chairs, half-frayed sofas, and creaky recliners became the set for Juergen Teller’s latest campaign—actual street corners in Paris, where this furniture looked like it was plucked straight from a dusty attic and left to test the city’s polished image. Draped across these worn relics is a line-up that needs no introduction: Kim Ye-Ji, the Olympic shooting phenom known for her steady hand; Romeo Beckham, athlete-meets-model hybrid; Kim Petras, fresh off a global pop takeover; and models Sua Lee, Khadim Sock, and Akolde Meen. Each figure looks like they’ve just landed on a stranger’s curb, defying the idea that luxury requires glossed perfection.
In the eye of Teller’s lens, that friction—between refined design and unraveling upholstery—creates something honest. Here, Balenciaga’s new bags take center stage: the Hampton Carry All is structured and spacious, while the Hourglass Pochette condenses the brand’s familiar shape into a tight, streamlined piece. This approach echoes the quiet luxury and stripped-back aura Balenciaga teased at recent runway shows, opting to let well-made pieces and sharp silhouettes speak for themselves. Demna’s rethinking of what it means to present a collection—in this case, vintage furniture as a runway and an eclectic group of personalities as muses—feels as much a statement on authenticity as it is on style. The result doesn’t scream; it simply exists, a raw snapshot of now.
