BALENCIAGA FW25: WAS A CASUAL AFTERNOON STROLL?

 

Demna has once again proven that he thrives on contradiction. For Balenciaga’s Fall/Winter 2025 collection, the designer transformed the runway into a never-ending labyrinth, with models navigating its twists and turns in an 80-look display that blurred the lines between corporate polish and sportswear ease. At first glance, it felt like a casual afternoon stroll—if your idea of casual includes sharply tailored power suits, exaggerated silhouettes, and an unexpected collaboration with PUMA.

Balenciaga has long been synonymous with oversized tailoring, and FW25 was no exception. Demna’s vision of office attire featured broad-shouldered blazers, ultra-long trousers, and dramatically cinched waists, all executed with a signature sense of irony. But just as one might settle into the world of power dressing, the collection shifted gears, introducing slouchy hoodies, track pants, and exaggerated sneakers that felt plucked straight from the archives of early-2000s sportswear.

The balance between business and leisure was razor-sharp. A wool overcoat might be paired with baggy sweatpants, while a crisp button-up shirt was tucked into oversized joggers. It was a wardrobe for the modern professional who oscillates between boardroom meetings and weekend errands without ever changing outfits.

Perhaps the most surprising moment of the show was the introduction of Balenciaga’s partnership with PUMA. While collaborations between luxury and sportswear brands have become the norm, this one felt particularly in sync with Demna’s aesthetic. The collection featured chunky, exaggerated sneakers that expanded on Balenciaga’s already iconic footwear line, alongside reimagined PUMA classics infused with the label’s signature dystopian aesthetic.

The partnership was a reminder that Balenciaga exists at the intersection of high fashion and mass appeal. While PUMA grounds the collection in streetwear accessibility, Demna’s avant-garde approach ensures that even a simple tracksuit feels subversive.

The show’s set design played a crucial role in amplifying the collection’s themes. Models walked through a seemingly infinite maze, a metaphor for both the endless cycle of fashion and the way modern life blurs work, leisure, and identity. The repetition of silhouettes, the layered styling, and the fusion of corporate and casualwear reinforced the idea that the contemporary wardrobe is no longer confined to rigid categories.

Balenciaga FW25 wasn’t just a collection—it was an experience, a meditation on how fashion adapts to a world where boundaries are increasingly fluid. Demna continues to push the envelope, proving that even a “casual afternoon stroll” can be an act of high-concept fashion. Whether it’s in the boardroom, on the street, or lost in the labyrinth of modernity, Balenciaga’s vision of the future remains uncompromisingly bold.

Photos courtesy of Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com