Balenciaga

Fall 2025 Couture Fashion Show Review

The Quiet Exit

Balenciaga‘s Fall 2025 couture fashion show review

By Mackenzie Richard Zuckerman

As Demna presented his final couture collection for Balenciaga, anticipation was high for a grand farewell that would encapsulate his decade-long tenure. Yet, what we witnessed was a collection that felt more like a quiet reflection than a dramatic finale, hinting at a thoughtful transition for the house.

THE COLLECTION

THE WOW FACTOR
6
THE ENGAGEMENT FACTOR
7
THE STYLING
7
THE CRAFTSMANSHIP
8
THE RETAIL READINESS
7
PROS
Technical mastery: Impeccable tailoring and construction underscored the collection’s couture credentials, with several pieces showcasing extraordinary craftsmanship.
A graceful exit: By resisting the urge to shock, the designer allowed space for a quiet farewell, setting the stage for a clean transition to Pierpaolo Piccioli’s incoming vision.
Cons
Emotional ambiguity: While the collection was refined, it lacked the emotional punch or final flourish that some hoped for in a designer’s farewell.
Missed storytelling opportunity: With such rich potential for a culminating narrative, the collection stopped short of delivering a clear, lasting message.

THE VIBE

Disciplined Drama

The Showstopper


In this collection, Demna seemed to embrace a more pared-back aesthetic, revisiting familiar silhouettes and themes rather than pushing boundaries. While this approach may not have delivered the element of surprise that some anticipated, it reflected a desire to create a clean slate for his successor, Pierpaolo. This collection, photographed throughout Paris, was as much a tribute to the city’s influence on Demna’s career as it was a nod to Balenciaga’s legacy of perfection.

While the silhouettes and construction bore Demna’s unmistakable hand—precision tailoring, voluminous coats, and veiled theatrics—the overall energy felt deliberately subdued. Gone were the overt provocations or meme-ready moments. In their place, a more introspective tone emerged, one that seemed to whisper rather than shout. The palette leaned into quietude: stark blacks, ivory whites, soft metallics. Even the most intricate pieces, like the architectural gowns, carried a certain restraint—as though the designer was pulling inward, editing himself. There was beauty here, but it was filtered through a lens of discipline and detachment, reinforcing the notion that this was not a spectacle, but a parting statement. One could argue that in this silence, Demna may have said more about his evolution than ever before.

THE DIRECTION

THE ON-BRAND FACTOR
8
THE BRAND EVOLUTION
2
THE PRESENTATION
7
THE INVITATION
8

THE WRAP UP

In the end, Demna’s final collection felt like a contemplative close to his chapter at Balenciaga, marked by a certain self-referential quality. This approach can be a double-edged sword: while it can honor a designer’s legacy, it can also risk feeling repetitive.

In this case, it seemed to be a quiet nod to his own journey and the house’s heritage, leaving us with a sense of closure rather than a bold finale. Ultimately, it feels like a respectful passing of the torch, setting the stage for a new creative vision to emerge.

Balenciaga Fall 2025 Couture Fashion Show

Editorial Director | The Impression