Fall/winter 2012 was a season of transforming and transporting at the house of Balenciaga. With a robust roster of collections under his design belt, all of which have been rooted in the brand’s iconic heritage dating back to the early twentieth century, creative director Nicolas Ghesquière was looking towards the future this season; coincidentally, or perhaps not, fall/winter 2012 came to be the designer’s final cold-weather collection for the brand which he singlehandedly resurrected in the late 1990s.
The runway show’s neon-lit, floating office setting, perched atop the 27th floor of a Paris skyscraper, an elevation seeming almost like outer space in Europe’s most beautiful, pre-war city, set a perfect tone for the collection’s futuristic corporate clothing. Ghesquière presented an offering of conceptual everyday ‘office’ wear, with highly developed fabrics, new age animal prints – leopard spots rendered through padded appliqué, inlayed zebra stripes and jacquard snakeskin – contradictory shapes, simple silhouettes and low-slung heels for easy mobility. From a commercial standpoint, the show’s sci-fi sweatshirts were easily covetable for even the most uninformed Balenciaga fan. In hindsight, these relaxed, graphic-printed garments were early, contemporary examples of streetwear invading high fashion. Over the course of the past five years, Balenciaga’s ‘Join a Weird Trip’ sweatshirts have become iconic visuals of the house, while ‘dressed up’ active-wear has infiltrated the runways of Paris fashion week; and therein lies the genius of Nicolas Ghesquière, a highly innovative creative director with an esteemed ability to foresee the future of fashion.
![Balenciaga fw 2012 mood board](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3kXmMyUxsQYIS8KigwQA22/90213928796d27787d1706f1de999802/Balenciaga_FW_2012_Mood_Board_.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
References
- 1
- 2
Peter Cook
Diagram of Sponge Building, 1975
![Peter cook diagram spinge city](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3d7cb6kV8AI4g2QaKG64mI/277f267485fd2058e0f53d580027c54c/Peter_Cook_Diagram__Spinge_City.jpg)
Maria Pergay
Chaise Anneaux, 1968
![Maria pergay chiause anneaux 1968](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/27sFKtE2wgeA8caq04Cusu/6d3b863106a4e5c0e6da3a9e628f91d5/Maria_Pergay_Chiause_Anneaux__1968.jpg)
Norma Kamali
Converse Heels, 1983
![Norma kamali 1983 2](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3mWII0JWXYk6c4QsYmiwS6/1b5da65c3e8ba7add29c04c674ed6e5d/Norma_Kamali_1983_2.jpg)
Alberto Fraser
Nastro Table Lamp, 1983-84
Shiro Kuramata
Furniture in Irregular Forms, Side 1, 1970
![Kuramata furniture in irregular forms](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3YvEDHJ3uoAY44ua8CqQ4i/5c18db1e399627aade3e0668aacfd107/Kuramata_Furniture_in_Irregular_Forms.jpeg)
Charles Ray
Fall '91
![Charles ray fall 91](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2Eockesyp2M2KcEkuUakCQ/c2f9d45b932ab4cb3a2ec936c003a16d/Charles_Ray_Fall__91.jpg)
Peter Saville
Joy Division, Unknown Pleasures, 1979
![Joy division unknown pleasures 665x400](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/RU62gXbIqIgiiEu0aSK0W/6cbe15e58a40563b63120aae393858d0/joy-division_unknown-pleasures-665x400.jpg)
Oscar Niemeyer
United Nations Headquarters, 1952
![Oscar niemeyer united nations headquarters](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4Nr8ulG1u8wOiEkUE46yui/b8c68deb80b10729d3e88976f4373e73/Oscar_Niemeyer__UNited_Nations_Headquarters.jpg)
Marc Newson
Extruded Table 3, 2008
![Extruded table3 01.jpg.1920x1000 q90 crop scale](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3ohoAiSGGQSMAGsiWkCIiU/5732922c1a1535a1535024294ee14d78/Extruded-Table3_01.jpg.1920x1000_q90_crop-scale.jpg)
Dan Flavin
Alternate Diagonals of March 2, 1964 (to Don Judd), 1964
Eileen Gray
Non-Conformist Chair, 1926
![Eileengray aram non conformist 639x639](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6fDCsxZV28gygGSGGI4a00/fc609ede4a3b14f6fb90ac07715e2338/EileenGray_Aram_Non-conformist-639x639.jpg)
Blair Thurman
Mr. White, 2008
![Blair thurman mr. white 2008](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1ECXyPvOfKsaogKiYiAewi/6aa55da6cc277cb8b9a033ebbb69ce93/Blair_Thurman_Mr._White__2008.jpg)
Superstudio
The Continuous Monument (On the Rocky Coast), 1969
![Superstudio the continuous monument on the rocky coast 1969](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/11dXTOYxPckWEUgEYUokKe/c6e9f47bb5e681725d820f2d5fccaf36/Superstudio_____The_Continuous_Monument__On_the_Rocky_Coast______1969.jpg)
Eero Saarinen
TWA Flight Center, 1962
![Twa 1672 twa projpic01](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5fSjvGABgQgIEiuS8mY2Eo/f9a5584f4c0bff37fa8f358e3643b9b2/TWA_1672_twa_projpic01.jpg)
Robert Longo
Untitled, 1981
![Untitled 1981 robert longo.](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3SdzZX2YyQU6QoM6AeqwIk/c6751417afb1d117a7e2acdc3fadfc9e/UNTITLED__1981__Robert_Longo._.jpg)
Yohji Yamamoto garments shot by Helmut Newton
Vogue US, July 1983
![Us vogue july 1983 polly mellen helmut newton hans feurer photograph yohji yamamoto](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5Q0kadT2FiY2ISoumgOWUg/dacfbb7c218fe785b5c00f8df20ff888/us-vogue-July_1983-polly-mellen-helmut-newton-hans-feurer_photograph_Yohji_Yamamoto.jpg)
Serge Mouille
TOTEM 170 cm and TOTEM 117 cm
![Xxx 33 totem grand petit](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/KqqEJ3L9u0QKiOwwYeqcy/487889cc8db93617f4d662275d86fff1/XXX_33_totem_grand_petit.jpg)
Yona Friedman
Spatial City, project, Aerian Perspective, 1958/1959
![Yona friedman spatial city project perspective 1958 1959 moma](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6QKSsSRoLCUyYaqQk0EqE6/2c9c64a396f59989f8d89643630a0913/Yona_Friedman__Spatial_City__project__Perspective__1958__1959__Moma_.jpg)
References
![Peter cook diagram spinge city](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3d7cb6kV8AI4g2QaKG64mI/277f267485fd2058e0f53d580027c54c/Peter_Cook_Diagram__Spinge_City.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Peter Cook
Diagram of Sponge Building, 1975
1 of 18
![Maria pergay chiause anneaux 1968](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/27sFKtE2wgeA8caq04Cusu/6d3b863106a4e5c0e6da3a9e628f91d5/Maria_Pergay_Chiause_Anneaux__1968.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Maria Pergay
Chaise Anneaux, 1968
2 of 18
![Norma kamali 1983 2](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3mWII0JWXYk6c4QsYmiwS6/1b5da65c3e8ba7add29c04c674ed6e5d/Norma_Kamali_1983_2.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Norma Kamali
Converse Heels, 1983
3 of 18
Alberto Fraser
Nastro Table Lamp, 1983-84
4 of 18
![Kuramata furniture in irregular forms](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3YvEDHJ3uoAY44ua8CqQ4i/5c18db1e399627aade3e0668aacfd107/Kuramata_Furniture_in_Irregular_Forms.jpeg?w=1000&q=70)
Shiro Kuramata
Furniture in Irregular Forms, Side 1, 1970
5 of 18
![Charles ray fall 91](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2Eockesyp2M2KcEkuUakCQ/c2f9d45b932ab4cb3a2ec936c003a16d/Charles_Ray_Fall__91.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Charles Ray
Fall '91
6 of 18
![Joy division unknown pleasures 665x400](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/RU62gXbIqIgiiEu0aSK0W/6cbe15e58a40563b63120aae393858d0/joy-division_unknown-pleasures-665x400.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Peter Saville
Joy Division, Unknown Pleasures, 1979
7 of 18
![Oscar niemeyer united nations headquarters](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4Nr8ulG1u8wOiEkUE46yui/b8c68deb80b10729d3e88976f4373e73/Oscar_Niemeyer__UNited_Nations_Headquarters.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Oscar Niemeyer
United Nations Headquarters, 1952
8 of 18
![Extruded table3 01.jpg.1920x1000 q90 crop scale](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3ohoAiSGGQSMAGsiWkCIiU/5732922c1a1535a1535024294ee14d78/Extruded-Table3_01.jpg.1920x1000_q90_crop-scale.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Marc Newson
Extruded Table 3, 2008
9 of 18
Dan Flavin
Alternate Diagonals of March 2, 1964 (to Don Judd), 1964
10 of 18
![Eileengray aram non conformist 639x639](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6fDCsxZV28gygGSGGI4a00/fc609ede4a3b14f6fb90ac07715e2338/EileenGray_Aram_Non-conformist-639x639.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Eileen Gray
Non-Conformist Chair, 1926
11 of 18
![Blair thurman mr. white 2008](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1ECXyPvOfKsaogKiYiAewi/6aa55da6cc277cb8b9a033ebbb69ce93/Blair_Thurman_Mr._White__2008.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Blair Thurman
Mr. White, 2008
12 of 18
![Superstudio the continuous monument on the rocky coast 1969](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/11dXTOYxPckWEUgEYUokKe/c6e9f47bb5e681725d820f2d5fccaf36/Superstudio_____The_Continuous_Monument__On_the_Rocky_Coast______1969.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Superstudio
The Continuous Monument (On the Rocky Coast), 1969
13 of 18
![Twa 1672 twa projpic01](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5fSjvGABgQgIEiuS8mY2Eo/f9a5584f4c0bff37fa8f358e3643b9b2/TWA_1672_twa_projpic01.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Eero Saarinen
TWA Flight Center, 1962
14 of 18
![Untitled 1981 robert longo.](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3SdzZX2YyQU6QoM6AeqwIk/c6751417afb1d117a7e2acdc3fadfc9e/UNTITLED__1981__Robert_Longo._.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Robert Longo
Untitled, 1981
15 of 18
![Us vogue july 1983 polly mellen helmut newton hans feurer photograph yohji yamamoto](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5Q0kadT2FiY2ISoumgOWUg/dacfbb7c218fe785b5c00f8df20ff888/us-vogue-July_1983-polly-mellen-helmut-newton-hans-feurer_photograph_Yohji_Yamamoto.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Yohji Yamamoto garments shot by Helmut Newton
Vogue US, July 1983
16 of 18
![Xxx 33 totem grand petit](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/KqqEJ3L9u0QKiOwwYeqcy/487889cc8db93617f4d662275d86fff1/XXX_33_totem_grand_petit.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Serge Mouille
TOTEM 170 cm and TOTEM 117 cm
17 of 18
![Yona friedman spatial city project perspective 1958 1959 moma](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6QKSsSRoLCUyYaqQk0EqE6/2c9c64a396f59989f8d89643630a0913/Yona_Friedman__Spatial_City__project__Perspective__1958__1959__Moma_.jpg?w=1000&q=70)