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Piccioli Unveils Balenciaga’s ‘ClairObscur’ in Paris, Announces July Haute Couture Debut

A chiaroscuro runway signals a refocus on couture craft with a human-centered lens.

Overview

  • The March 7 presentation at 22 Champs-Élysées was Piccioli’s second Balenciaga runway during Paris Fashion Week.
  • Sam Levinson led the show’s visual direction, deploying immersive projections that included material tied to Euphoria’s third season.
  • The ClairObscur collection emphasized couture technique and materials—leather, cashmere, silk and heavy paillettes—with draping and volumes that reveal light from shadow.
  • Piccioli described the effort as a search for light in a period of fashion he sees as dark, reiterating that garments must engage the body to hold meaning.
  • An inclusive, multigenerational cast walked the runway, with guests such as Winona Ryder and Naomi Watts in attendance.