Balenciaga

Spring-Summer 2013 – Nicolas Ghesquière added a touch of ingenuity offering something different from the norm. Up first, a white sports style bra wrapped round the torso with smart, endurable black tapered trousers. Then, a new take on the LBD with white lined flamenco ruffles on a black dress. This, along with skirts that feel into edgy points, created a new dimension of both long and short. Fluted sleeves were very feminine, as were pleated skirts despite the predominantly calm and selective palette of black, beige, eggshell and white. At the same time, mature tailoring promoted the perfect workwear with fluid trouser-blazer combos worn with mannish lace-ups. Silhouettes became more extreme, with exaggerated ruffled skirts and boxy cropped tops. Accessories were kept to a minimum, promoting the new bucket shaped bag, both small and large depending on the time of day. White shirts and grey pinafore dresses lost their innocence with asymmetric hems and nipped in waists, as did tweed outfits with tiny crop tops. Being both innovative and mature, it was a little something for everyone.