In his pre-spring summer collection 2010 for Balenciaga, Nicolas Ghesquière paid homage to the voluminous silhouettes and couture fabrics of house founder Cristóbal.
It was Balenciaga while nimbly straddling the masculine-feminine and urban-rustic divides. Trim leather jackets and pantsuits in men’s wear checks were softened with glossy silk blouses sprouting a ruffled collar or a bow at the waist, while balloon-sleeved utility parkas were animated with madras shirts that had thick neck ruffs. Rounding out this sophisticated and diverse collection were sleek and futuristic pantsuits in raw, jute-look silk, sculptural dresses with flaring crinoline skirts or cascading ruffles and a short guipure lace dress that evokes crochet and futuristic armor at the same time.