Demna Gvasalia exudes the bad-taste-into-chic provocation that gives him the edge with Balenciaga maniacs. Scans of euro and dollar notes and screen-saver scenes of sunsets and mountain landscapes became prints. Souvenir-shop charms jangled from chain belts and bag straps. Chunky gilded earrings were taken from old “duty-free” Balenciaga-branded merch. A plastic molded top-handled motorcycle bag appeared. At one point, trousers and skirts took on the detail of café umbrellas and awnings, complete with fringe. Finally, like Christopher Kane, he went to Crocs—the ultimate ugly comfort shoe producers – to make a line of giant platforms.
