Balenciaga’s Fall/Winter 2020 show at Paris Fashion Week culminated in overhead thunderclaps, boiling seas, and dramatic, apocalyptic scenery. As models splashed through a flooded arena to a heart-pumping soundtrack, there was a lot to take in. Sensory overload aside, it was impossible not to notice the new Balenciaga ‘Neo Classic’ bag, especially if you’re a longtime Balenciaga enthusiast.
Rewind two decades, and the Balenciaga ‘Classic’ was on the arm of every celebrity and supermodel. Everyone from Kate Moss to the Olsen twins and Hilton sisters could agree it was an instant icon, worthy of carrying to nightclubs and cappuccino runs alike.
It went by different names at the time – the ‘Motorcycle’, the ‘City’ – but its enduring appeal speaks to its true nature as a ‘Classic’. Vintage-inspired with a rectangular shape, tasseled zip closures, soft structure, a top-handle, and metallic hardware, the bag became the singular “It” bag of the Balenciaga empire.
Why fix what isn’t broken? Why mess with success? Today, Balenciaga reimagines its cornerstone “It” bag with a few modern tweaks. The ‘Neo Classic’ for Fall/Winter 2020 has new proportions, exposed edges, and bonded nappa lamb lining, but its enduring allure remains. The Balenciaga ‘Neo Classic’ bag comes in a miniature ‘City Nano’ size, as well as an extra-large, with more modest proportions in between.
Discover the Balenciaga ‘Neo Classic’ bag collection in the gallery below, and ready your credit card because the bag becomes available at Balenciaga’s Dubai Mall flagship on July 20.