After reviewing the jewelry collaborations inspired by Balenciaga’s Shanghai show in our last issue, let’s now explore how the ongoing Balenciaga trend, which continues to generate buzz in the fashion world, is creating new waves.
Is it about the grotesque, exaggerated, imaginative, and endless creative thoughts and feelings? Or a new way of minimalist styling? Or perhaps creating new fashion selling points for aggressive monetization?
Such designs are not uncommon in both jewelry and clothing circles. Feeling lost in the fashion desert with no clue how to escape? How can you create a look that fits these descriptors while being just right and comfortably eye-catching?
Would you like some styling examples? And which items have captured your heart, making you want to order immediately? Keep reading, and you’ll find the answers you’re expecting!
The Balenciaga Spring/Summer 2025 show held on Shanghai’s Bund on May 30th continues to generate buzz. This marks Balenciaga’s first fashion show in an Asian city and Creative Director Demna Gvasalia’s Asian debut.
Notably, even before the show, the internet was flooded with reports. On one hand, this was due to the brand’s own promotion of the show – we’re all familiar with Balenciaga’s superior ability to create hype, starting with the xiaolongbao-styled invitation.
Secondly, it was due to the invited guests’ early announcements about the show through social media, especially the high anticipation for the red carpet looks of the invited celebrities.
Coincidentally, an unexpected rain, combined with the already bizarre musical atmosphere and the successive appearances of matching looks, brought resonance and deep feelings to the entire show.
Overall, black still dominated the show. At first glance, the perplexing Giant Booties – which one never knows when to wear – and the mind-bending 10XL Platform sneakers stood out. However, they’re perfect for creating unique looks and adding height. This also demonstrates that consistently pushing the boundaries of bizarreness and avant-garde is the brand’s ongoing good practice.
Additionally, clothing-shaped bags and shoebox clutches contributed to the show’s bizarre style. In terms of practicality, carrying an extra piece of clothing is indeed more convenient, but the purpose here is clearly to attract attention.
Dress designs are Balenciaga’s forte, with sculptural pleats, exaggerated silhouettes, component-studded details, flowing feathers, long gloves, velvet fabrics, and court-style elements all being long-standing brand signatures. Moreover, the collaboration effect is indeed creating buzz for the brand’s sales. The quick sell-out of runway items right after the show is proof of this.
Having said all this, apart from the bizarre, inconceivable yet highly sought-after styles and items contributed by the much-discussed Balenciaga, we can also identify some brands that maintain stylistic unity while each holding their own characteristics in this resurgence of bizarre and avant-garde fashion.
Boucheron
Rich Inspiration, Playing with Materials
Among jewelry brands, if we were to identify a high-end jewelry brand that represents mainstream style while possessing bizarre potential and experimental spirit, it would undoubtedly be Boucheron’s haute joaillerie. Apart from unprecedented designs, Boucheron‘s use of materials in their high jewelry collections also breaks traditional concepts of jewelry making.
Looking back at the 2021 Carte Blanche, Holographique high jewelry collection, brand creative director Claire Choisne introduced new gemstones into the high jewelry realm. Particularly noteworthy were the holographic ceramics and holographic aqua, using aerospace industry coating technology to spray titanium and silver on ceramic and crystal surfaces.
The resulting luster is as beautiful as a rainbow. Incorporating such color schemes into bizarre-style designs could indeed serve as an excellent reference.
Carte Blanche, Holographique
High Jewelry Collection Pieces
Furthermore, Boucheron reimagined nature in the Carte Blanche, Ailleurs high jewelry collection, again oriented towards exaggerated glamour. The series incorporated natural materials such as rattan, shells, butterfly wings, raw wood, meteorites, and pebbles.
In the brand’s promotional catalog, the models’ styling (especially the diverse hairstyles) also combined bizarreness with fantastical charm, paired with high jewelry to express an indescribable allure.
Carte Blanche, Ailleurs
High Jewelry Collection Pieces
Looking at last year’s Carte Blanche, More is More high jewelry collection, it’s another source of bizarre style integration – an ultimate expression of pop art and Memphis style. Simple, sharp lines paired with eye-catching, highly saturated colors and rich gemstones perform a moving concerto.
Especially in this high jewelry collection, the styling and wearing methods add more interest. Bow hair accessories, hoodie drawstrings, oversized chain necklaces, pocket and ball bracelets – such styles make one feel helpless in terms of professional competence.
Carte Blanche, More is More
High Jewelry Collection Pieces
A little spoiler: it’s said that Boucheron will focus on “water” this year. If “water” is combined with some bizarre designs, let’s look forward to what astonishing works will emerge.
From the brand’s official images, it’s not hard to see that exaggeration and minimalism always go hand in hand. This is also the concept that runs through the bizarre styling we’re discussing.
Robert Wun
Love and Drama, Beauty Full of Tension
Among clothing brands, Robert Wun, who has gained fame in recent years, presents us with another way of showcasing the bizarre. Starting from custom-made gowns for Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Cardi B, if we look at his works without delving into interviews and runway analyses, we find them permeated with strong personal style. Perhaps the most memorable aspect is the sense of drama about love that the designer brings to us.
At his first haute couture show in Paris, Robert Wun and his team brought a surprise to the fashion world. Everyday occurrences were infinitely magnified: a white gown stained with red wine, a black suit drenched by raindrops, and a bridal gown singed by fire. These three looks deeply captivated the fashion world’s attention.
During the recently concluded Paris Haute Couture Week, who wasn’t impressed again by his works? Continuing the storyline from the previous show, Mika was invited to walk for the brand. Additionally, this time there was a blood-soaked bridal gown and a red phantom outfit.
Kate Blanchett later wore this red phantom ensemble for CAP 74024 magazine, interpreting power, freedom, and beauty. The brilliant use of black, red, and white color schemes pushed this show to its climax. From this perspective, symbolically significant colors, even when used in pure form, can express bizarreness and avant-garde through details and accessories that tell a story.
Schiaparelli
A Veteran Fashion House’s Avant-Garde Belief
Speaking of creating buzz, who doesn’t know the renowned Schiaparelli? After years of rivalry with Chanel, they’ve gone down the path of wild imagination with no return. First, they had lifelike animal heads on black bases, then crystal robot dolls and chip skirts showcasing technology and audacity. This is the true interpretation of bizarre style.
From our brand recommendations above, we’ve understood the trend presentation of this style. Now, let’s look at some celebrities who’ve nailed these looks.
In this fashion desert of a summer, choosing the right bizarre style techniques can still make you stand out brilliantly.
Styling Formula One:
Classic black, white, and grey, paired with imaginative item designs and controversial logos, accessorized with metal chain jewelry.
Recommended Items
Recommended Jewelry Styles
Styling Formula Two:
Dramatic and narrative elements, playing with bizarre fashion
Recommended Items
Recommended Jewelry Styles
These are all our recommendations for the bizarre style this issue. If you’re at a loss for summer daily outfits, you can extrapolate from bizarre styling. It’s not just a presentation of a style, but can also become a sharp weapon in the fashion world, elevating your styling and fashion sense by more than just one level!
The Rise of ‘Bizarre Chic’ in Jewelry: Elevating Your Style to the Next Level
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