Balenciaga Fall 2022

Looks 68, 5, 69

Over the course of the pandemic, there was so much talk about Fashion Month—how to change it, evolve it, make better use of it—but we returned to the cadence almost too happily. I get it; Fall 2022 felt like a monumental shift where life as we once knew it had returned. We could go back to our real lives; press play from where we left off two years ago.

Things weren’t okay though: Russia had declared war on Ukraine, but still, the industry had catwalks to produce and shows to attend.

I say this pointedly not to demonize anyone for doing their jobs and living their life—I was at home, working, safe, essentially doing the same (only in well-worn sweats)—but because this is our reality. War, strife, and injustices happen every day and we share what we can (or feel like), then carry on with the privilege of remaining unaffected for the most part. What Demna Gvasalia did at Balenciaga was give us a glimpse of how Fashion Month could be used. He still put on a show and clothes were still sent down the runway, but this performance became a medium for capturing what was happening right then, right now still. The message was poignant. Powerful.

Here’s how you can help Ukraine.

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xx

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