This season at Balenciaga, Demna aimed to completely challenge our understanding of the “standard” wardrobe. The show opened with four identical suits, setting the tone for the collection. These suits were the same, but the ideas behind them were anything but. First, there was the way the suit fit a man, then how it fit a woman. Same suits, different results. The theme continued with another suit, purposefully creased and wrinkled, and one more that appeared moth-eaten beyond repair. The collection’s central idea explored how “standard” clothing can vary from person to person.

Many of the looks were, as described in the show notes, “banal”, but this was intentional. From a distance, they looked like regular, everyday clothes, yet the techniques behind them were far from ordinary. A polo shirt may have seemed like a simple polo, but it was constructed in the same atelier as the most intricate ball gown, and a grey hoodie with the word “Luxury” emblazoned on it was crafted from superfine cashmere.

A collaboration with Puma showcased some of the collection’s boldest and most audacious pieces. Full, skinny tracksuits featuring Puma’s signature logo strutted down the runway alongside sleek dresses and opulent fur coats. The contrast was shocking, but it worked. These tracksuits were as brashly “standard” as you can get, and only Demna had the audacity to take them there. Just don’t expect to get into many exclusive clubs while wearing them.