Gift ideas by Balenciaga
November is not even over yet that everything already seems to be talking to us about the imminent (not even too) arrival of Christmas. And whether you greet this news with the vital momentum of a child who considers this the most wonderful time of the year, or with the melancholy with which I face the Christmas decorations prematurely posted on store windows, you have to come to terms with the fact that soon you will have to start thinking about what to get mom, dad, sister or brother and partner. And why not, even to your dog. But fear not, fashion comes to your rescue this time as well. Or rather, Balenciaga, which has created a collection in which it collects all the objects signed by the brand over the years, from the most recent to the most dated, from which you can choose the perfect gift: the Balenciaga Objects.
Fueled by a sharp marketing strategy, Demna's love of not-quite-cheap and not-always-functional reinterpretations of everyday objects is not recent history. The latest and perhaps most sensational case was that of the Trash Bag, literally a reproduction of a garbage bag sold for the modest sum of 1800 euros, which debuted at the Paris fashion shows last March and found itself the protagonist of a (very predictable) campaign of hilarious memes.
But that the Georgian designer was able to look beyond the boundaries of fashion to explore undefeated territories not without a hint of smug self-mockery was evident as early as when, at the beginning of his path at Balenciaga, he created the model of bags inspired by Ikea's famous blue; or the Balenciaga x Lay's, a bag identical to a packet of potato chips, also sold for 1800 euros; to the conception of earrings made from the laces of what remained of the infamous Triple S. In short, all it takes is a little imagination and some healthy and unfailing foresight that it's done.
With Gabriele Galimberti's shots posted on its Instagram page-which made those who deemed them inappropriate turn their noses up at them because they depict children surrounded also by objects generally referable to the fetish world such as leather belts, collars, chains, plush bondage effect-the brand presents us with its new lifestyle line, ranging from pillows, to bed sheets, to a doormat and tableware created in collaboration with Ginori 1735. All, of course, signed Balenciaga with no possibility of misunderstanding.
Really news to the collection is the introduction of a series dedicated to one's pets, including collars with personalized tags, leashes that take up the idea of a dressmaker's ruler, and heart-shaped blankets and kennels.
Among the reinterpretations of everyday objects, whose costs it has inevitably driven up, are the travel pillow with integrated hood at 525 euros, the 2000 euro shopping bag, and the Coffe Cups in full New York style for about 100 euros. And if you just can't get the Cagole booties out of your head, here they shrink to become an admittedly sui generis decoration to hang on your Christmas tree.
If Demna's intent was to provide us with a vast repertoire from which to draw inspiration for our Christmas gifts, well, we'll just have to look elsewhere for something that will meet our tastes not without not minding our wallets.
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