What To Wear This Winter As Told By Balenciaga Fall/Winter 2018

We are five days into October AKA “spooky season” and the chill of winter has yet to rear its refreshing and welcome head. If it ever actually gets cold, and if you care about hot trendz and the newest runway looks, you might be wondering “what should I be wearing this winter?” Well, look no further because Balenciaga has got you covered… and covered… and… covered. 

The Balenciage Fall/Winter 2018 show was a delight to the eyes with all of the refreshingly odd styling choices, the vibrant hues, and the crisp silhouettes. I think a few of the gorgeously-curved jackets actually made me gasp. It was also the first show that officially combined menswear and women’s fashion into one huge, delicious display, one that left me wondering why men’s and women’s fashion is so separated anyway. Is it really that different? Is there no room for some give and take? 

The quirky, futuristic vibes from recent shows in the past couple of seasons is a welcome change from the endless army of athleisure and sneakers that has overtaken the catwalk as of late. There were so many tantalizing, dizzying details about this collection, that we all could pick up some inspiration from it to spice up our own winter wardrobe and styling choices. I’ve outlined a few of my favorite threads that wove this collection together (ha!) so listen up and take notes!

The Biggest Coats You’ve Ever Seen… And Lots of Them

Probably one of the most iconic aspects of this collection was all of the coats, literally layers and layers of them. Some of the coats were so large, it was almost comical- which is what made it so damn fun! If you take a page out of their book and wear the largest coat you can find, not only will you look cool as hell, you’ll also be as warm as hell… literally.

Winter Blooms

Throughout this collection, several different, yet all equally vibrant, floral prints assaulted our senses (in a good way) and went in direct contrast to the usual solemnity and blandness of the winter season. So I say, let a little sunshine and joy into your wardrobe this winter with some distinctly warm, summery florals!

Prim Primaries

Primary colors have been a huge trend among Instagram trendsetters and streetwear legends for a while now, but, with this collection, it seems like this simplistic, yet striking trend may soon make its debut in the population at large. I’ve always been a fan of bright colors, so I say, why not? Mix and match- it’s all about bright, vibrant fun this season!

Structured Blazers

I thought some of the most thoughtfully crafted and dynamo pieces in this collection were the shaped and structured blazers and pea coats, which, ironically, were actually crafted and molded by a 3D modeling program on a computer, allowing each piece to be identical in all of its “razor-sharp, sleek, basque-waisted” glory. I just love how it accentuates the shape of the body so beautifully, almost like Dior’s New Look, while also adding that layer of androgyny when the pieces were worn by masculine people. If I were to get anything from this collection, it would definitely be one of these breathtaking jackets.

Velvet is Back, Baby

We all know that all things ’90s have been having some kind of renaissance lately, and velvet just keeps popping up again and again. This luxe, rich material not only adds a ton of texture to your outfit, it’s also warm as hell, so it’s perfect for the incoming cold.

Chunky Chains

I’ve never been a fan of huge, statement jewelry, but there is something equal parts appealing and off-putting about a giant, chunky chain resting upon your fragile, human neck that intrigues me just enough to add this to the list. And these chains are even more interesting because they look like normal chains at first glance, but upon closer inspection the necklaces are actually made of interlocking clips and carabiners often used in rock climbing and other outdoorsy activities, which is a callback to the skiing and snowboarding theme that served as this collection’s main source of inspiration. While chains of all kinds are a staple in goth fashion, I think this style could be recycled to great effect if paired with distinctly feminine, soft looks for some delicious juxtaposition.

I am confident that, even if you don’t look at any other winter collections this season, you have all the inspiration you need to get yourself started on honing your winter style. You definitely shouldn’t feel the need to follow trends when figuring out what you would like to wear, though. Just be yourself and your style will naturally emerge and evolve from that, which is, essentially, how fashion is born anyways.

All photos from Vogue.com