Before the Demna circus kicks off at Gucci (pray for Gucci), the designer delivered his final Balenciaga Haute Couture collection during the Fall 2025 season.
This was Demna’s last hurrah before Pierpaolo Piccioli takes over to bring the brand back to its original DNA with, hopefully, some much-needed creative intelligence and elegance. A shift many of us are ready for—with a deep sigh of relief.
Here’s how the celebrities marked this changing of the guard…
A woman in black
If I could have excommunicate one person from this circus, it would have been Nicole Kidman—because she’s far too chic for Demna’s chaos. Her refined Balenciaga black suit. Understated, minimal, and powerful in its simplicity—quiet luxury without saying a word.
Breaking the Balenciaga black-out
Kim Kardashian stood out by ditching the house’s go-to black for a white Balenciaga bustier dress. Is this her final pantashoe-free frontier? We can only hope. She’s made those spandex leggings-stilettos her entire personality, and with Demna heading to Gucci, maybe—just maybe—she’ll let them go. A girl can dream.
The calm Before The couture storm
I just know Michelle Yeoh is quietly celebrating Pierpaolo’s arrival. Her journey with Demna’s Balenciaga has been a rocky one, but she signed off with grace in a sharp black look.
Grey, but make it fierce
This grey Balenciaga dress might be lacking in impact on its own, but Aya Nakamura is absolutely carrying it with her presence. What it lacks in design, she makes up for in attitude.
The face card never declines
Balenciaga always gives Yseult these cocoon-like, swallow-you-whole silhouettes, and while I’d love to see her in something less engulfing, that face is doing all the heavy lifting.
Soft shimmer, strong identity
Lorde looked perfectly at ease in her silver wispy Balenciaga mesh dress—light, ethereal, and very much in tune with her artsy minimalism. Had she gone full Demna, it would’ve felt like cosplay.
Cheeseball couture with a country twist
Cardi B gave us Dolly Parton energy with her bouffant and a Balenciaga that felt like it belonged in a rhinestone-studded Vegas revue. This was more rhinestone rodeo than couture chic.
Dark romance
Tessa Thompson leaned into sultry, vintage glamour with her black satin and lace Balenciaga slip dress, complete with suspender accents. It was giving “film noir heroine” meets after-dark cabaret—deliciously theatrical.
Velvet simplicity
Salma Hayek kept things unfussy in a plush velvet Balenciaga number that was quiet, elegant, and refreshingly drama-free. A rare thing for this brand.
Mini dress or jacket?
Katy Perry wore the short version of the gown Milena Smit showcased at Cannes, but the proportions were skewed so short, it read more cropped coat than actual dress. Not the most flattering interpretation, and definitely not the same magic.
This final couture collection marked the end (thank the lord) of a Balenciaga chapter defined by extremes. Let’s see what a little restraint—and Piccioli—can do.
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