Spanish brand Balenciaga has decided to take a different path than most fashion houses. Its FW2021 collection was presented last year in December in a highly unconventional way - through the brand's own video game Afterworld: The Age of Tomorrow. The game takes place in the near future of 2031 in various locations, Balenciaga store included, where players can view all creations from the new collection. The brand has introduced a total of 50 looks, which also serve as the game characters, and players can choose one of them for their journey through the "post-apocalyptic" world.
Looking at the game Afterworld: The Age of Tomorrow and the featured Balenciaga outfits, you might get an impression that the future is not so bright. Dirty streets, dark nooks, strange creatures, ruined nature, danger around every corner... It seems that the only effective weapon is to quickly get chainmail armor, become invisible by painting your face beyond recognition, and cutting your oldest jeans to achieve the coveted homeless style (or going to the Balenciaga boutique to buy them). This could be a good solution in a post-apocalyptic world and help you survive in it. However, there's a small catch. The collection will be launched later this year, so the question arises, who would voluntarily wear such pieces out in the streets? Yes, the coronavirus pandemic has shaken the world, but is it really that bad?
Outfits that got the green light
Let's take a look at the FW2021 collection objectively and decide, which pieces are actually wearable. If we omit the chainmail that every good fashionista takes with a grain of salt, there are actually some fabulous creations. Quilted jackets, passionate red, a perfectly fitting trench coat, or a stylish dress are some of the times that shouldn't be missing in your wardrobe this year.
Men have it even worse, it looks like Balenciaga wanted to take revenge on them this year. Let's face it, who would want to voluntarily look like a waste collector, a beggar, or a zombie from another galaxy?
We can only hope that Balenciaga will have better luck creating its looks next season. More outfits from the FW2021 collection can be found in the gallery at the end of the article.
Názor PROTI PROUDU: Anděla Vostrá
The Visitors have returned
When I look at the Balenciaga collection, I feel as if I have gone back to 1983, when we all became obsessed with the series Visitors, starring the former sex symbol Dáda Patrasová. Timeless items with a touch of the Middle Ages, when men didn't have to care about their clothes, because they put on an armor and hurried off to the battlefield. Lately, the whole planet has been feeling like battling an enemy, because of the fight against the invisible foe called coronavirus. So this whole collection in fact has a deeper meaning.
The most important thing is to look good
Consequently, it should come as no surprise that as a part of the collection, this brand has also released a computer game called Afterworld: The Age of Tomorrow, which takes place in 2031. God knows what virus we'll be fighting in ten years. But let's remember that no matter what we're doing, we have to look good.
My grandmother always used to tell me to wear nice underwear, even if I only go to take out the garbage. Why? What if I got hit by a tram! Once they undress me in the morgue or hospital, I won't embarrass myself. This is exactly what this Balenciaga collection evokes in me. With a few exceptions, of course...
Bio look
Open in gallery (4)
Modelka v kabátu Balenciaga FW2021Source: archiv Balenciaga
I'm sorry, but this coat was created like this... I've put on one of those giant body bags, poured honey or maple syrup on it, and ran into the forest to roll around in needles, mushrooms, and moss. Maybe we can find pine cone remains there, too. I call this the natural style. Most importantly, please do not put this in the washing machine.
Good old retro and jeans. There's nothing like going back to the days of flower children. Everything was allowed and nothing was a problem. Everything was big, fluffy, and colorful. I just don't know how today's guys would tolerate the uncertainty whether they are wearing pants or a skirt...
I've always considered guys in uniform sexy. But no two uniforms are the same, right? These we can often see on the D1 motorway whenever there's some repair work being done. At that moment the D1 becomes the largest public car park in the world and there are more than enough of these uniformed men running around. It suggests that this look is not so original. And who would like to wear something they've seen on basically every other guy in town, right?
Leoš Mareš copycat
Open in gallery (4)
Model ve žlutém kabátu Balenciaga FW2021Source: archiv Balenciaga
Although few believed it, Leoš Mareš has made history by wearing fake fur coats. Our history, that is. In any case, long ago even Louis Vuitton copied socks in sandalds and old-fashioned fanny packs from the Czechs. And it caught on. So, why couldn't Balenciaga borrow our Leoš's fur? Nevertheless, if I ever see it on my boyfriend, I'll go ballistic, believe me. Or rather, I'll kick him in the balls. I'll beat the hell out of him at home!
Either way, the collection has brought a breath of fresh air into the boring show of ever-repeating outfits. It doesn't matter that they're unwearable. Everything is closed and there is nowhere to wear the pieces anyway.
Móda proti proudu
