#balenciaga spring 2016

[fagunt]

Balenciaga spring 2016

[myrunwayarchive]

Balenciaga Spring 2016 RTW

[msclaritea]

"Rachel Chandler, a professional photographer and modeling agent, was reportedly involved in the casting process for Balenciaga. Chandler is being scrutinized online for her alleged links to Jeffrey Epstein.

The speculation comes amid the scandal surrounding Balenciaga's recent controversial ad. The luxury fashion house landed in hot water for its gift collection campaign that featured children posing with plush bear purses wearing outfits based on themes of b*ndage.

The company also faced backlash over its Spring 2023 campaign ad that consisted of a photo featuring printouts of a 2008 Supreme Court ruling on child p*rnography.

Amid the ongoing controversy, British influencer Oli London has claimed that the brand deliberately designed the campaign and is "deeply involved in child abuse and exploitation." London has been quite vocal in condemning Balenciaga's campaign.London has also asked their followers to research about Balenciaga's association with Rachel Chandler. They further opened up about a theory on the latter's alleged connection to Epstein while speaking to GBN Live:

“In 2016, one of the people who recruited all of the models for Balenciaga’s runway show was a woman called Rachel Chandler who has been on Jeffrey Epstein’s island. She has even posted the picture on Instagram of CCTV footage back in 2013, bragging about being on an island.”

They further added:

“If you look at her modeling agency every single one of the models looks like a trafficking victim. You can see they’ve got very dark circles under the eye and people need to research that.”

While Chandler is the co-founder of the Midland modeling agency, which lists Balenciaga as one of its clients, there is no official account of the former's connection to Epstein.

Chandler previously went viral over an old photo with former US president Bill Clinton. Several conspiracy theorists claimed the photo was allegedly taken on Epstein's private plane while on their way to the latter's infamous island.

Sue Knows Best

@sues86453

Who remembers Rachel Chandler? Think #Epstein Island…..

Coincidence that she also recruited models for #Balenciaga?

I don’t believe in coincidence. #grooming

However, no official confirmation about the photograph's actual location has been made available to the public.

Rachel Chandler's modeling agency represents renowned clients

Rachel Chandler is a professional photographer and modeling agent from Los Angeles. She reportedly moved to New York to study History of Art at Gallatin School and eventually started interning for arts organizations and photographers, including Patrick Demarchelier.

According to her official bio, Chandler provides an "intimate portrayal of the social and creative scene in which she works, lives and operates in" through her work. She reportedly began serving as a photographer for Purple Diary after meeting editor Olivier Zahm through mutual friends.

She has also been a contributing photographer for Industrie online and Vogue. Chandler also founded the New York-based Midland Agency with Walter Pearce in September 2016.

The modeling agency focuses on casting and management and represents a large group of models. Some of their clients include brands like Gucci, Marni, Fenty, Balenciaga, Miu Miu, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Zara, Gap, Comme Des Garcons, Telfar, and Jason Wu.

Twitter shares theories about Rachel Chandler's alleged Epstein connection

Netizens are sharing conspiracy theories about Rachel Chandler's Epstein link amid the Balenciaga scandal (Image via Twitter/Savage Daughter)

Balenciaga continues to face outrage on social media over its latest controversial ad campaign featuring children. Photographer Rachel Chandler's association with the brand and alleged connection to Jeffrey Epstein has also gone viral online.

In an old interview with Vice's i-D Magazine, Chandler claimed that she helped curate the lineup for Balenciaga Creative Director Demna Gvsalia's fall/winter 2016 Balenciaga show.

“The casting director was a friend of a friend and he needed help," she said at the time. "I suggested a few people for them and they ended up taking all of my suggestions! So I thought, ‘Ok, I must be good at this.’”

Chandler was later identified in a photo where she was seen posing with Bill Clinton inside an airplane.

According to fact-checking site Snopes, the picture first surfaced online in 2006. It was originally shared with a caption that suggested Clinton was posing with a 19-year-old college student inside billionaire venture capitalist Ron Burkle's private plane.

Several years later, conspiracy theorists claimed that Clinton and Chandler's photo was from Epstein's "Lolita Express" private plane. As the theory has resurfaced online amid Balenciaga's ad campaign controversy, several social media users have taken to Twitter to share their theories about Chandler.

@OliLondonTV

You want to see how deep and dark Balenciaga’s abuse of kids goes?

She is a model agent, provides a lot of models for brand. All models in her agency look like Trafficking Victims. She was on Epstein Island she even posted CCTV pic from Island

If they think Balenciaga is bad:

Wait until they hear about Rachel Chandler, Les Wexner and the modeling industry's deep ties to Epstein Island.

"I had a feeling there would be a Rachel Chandler-Balenciaga connection and there it is!🏻The models at Balenciaga and Midland, a “modeling & casting agency” founded by Chandler, look abused and like real trafficking victims!"

Rachel Chandler and Balenciaga connected - wow!!

Great find - thanks @Shorty56167141 twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

The photography agency behind the Valenciaga shoot is run by Rachel Chandler a Jeffrey Epstein assistant. You've seen her photo taken on Epstein's Lolita Express with Bill Clinton. twitter.com/PowerOurPeople…

Balenciaga, Rachel Chandler… On the flight logs for Epstein Island. Did everyone who went to Epstein Island participate in Child Trafficking? I would assume not and certainly hope not. It is grounds for reasonable suspicion. What I can say, is the model woman, probably in on it.

While theories continue to pour in online, it is to be noted that Rachel Chandler has never been involved in any legal proceedings related to Epstein, who was convicted of child trafficking. Reports suggest that Chandler has also never been charged with any crime herself.

Although Clinton reportedly flew in Epstein's private plane in the past, his spokesperson has previously denied that his photo with Rachel Chandler was taken inside Lolita Express. The latter has also never publicly confirmed or denied rumors about the photograph."

We've talked about Rachel Chandler before, haven't we @gatorfisch

[deepdiveswithdoireann]

Cosplaying Poor: The Tired Trend of Rich Fashion

Aren’t rich people not tired of cosplaying as poor? Because we are tired of seeing it. By mixing work wear with refined tailoring and elegant silhouettes, Carharrt and Sacai’s collaboration for Spring/Summer 2024 perfectly captures the essences of rich aestheticising  poverty. Beyond the slumming, which is the core issue with the collection, it comes across as tacky and tired. 

Carhartt, which is a work wear brand established in 1889, has grown in popularity in recent years due to endorsements from celebrities such as A$AP Rocky, a rising trend of vintage fashion has also led to a growth in popularity. I've even seen memes that refer to seeing construction workers “breaking in” Carhartt jackets so that people can buy them second hand and get that distressed, edgy look. This idea of buying pre-distressed clothes isn't new (I'm sure we all fell victim to the ripped jeans epidemic of the 2010s) but are brands taking it too far?  Brands such as Balenciaga have gone viral for selling shoes held together by duct tape for hundreds of euros, resulting in obvious backlash for this brand. There were other collaborations in recent years that follow a similar pattern as Carhartt and Sacai, such as the Adidas and Gucci collaborations. To me this seems like luxury fashion is trying to cash in on the influence of Black aesthetics in pop-culture; brands like Adidas became a staple of hip-hop culture from their association with Run-DMC. Now Carhartt uses rappers like A$AP Rocky and Lil Uzi to promote their brand, and the cycle continues. 

Carhartt and Sacai flopped with this collaboration. The clothes themselves are lackluster to say the least. All they really did was implement iconic silhouettes from their dungarees and attach them to silk skirts, which looks boring. Of course they tailored new silhouettes incorporating their jackets but this being said, anything they tried to present as “new” looked straight out of Bikini Bottom. Shirts with huge leaf embellishments, is just one of the looks that is being pushed most on social media and websites like HypeBeast, but it looks like it came straight out of H&M in 2016. Maybe if the collaboration was presenting something new, exciting and original it would be easier to digest. But I’m doubtful any fabulous fashion forward flair would calm the gastric upset triggered by their working class posturing. 

I do recognise that Carhartt clothing is not necessarily cheap, but it is built with the intention to last. The rise of fast fashion and micro trends has led consumers to feel as though they need to stay up to date with trends while the rich lead the way. The rapid trend cycles have subsequently led to a rise in the prices of trending brands such as Carhartt. I’m tired of the trend cycles that have become so concrete and unachievable for most people. I think collaborations such as this show that rich people will always want to fit in with the other 99% of us. While we can only dream of living luxuriously, the rich can dress up as poor and call it anything from “rat girl chic” to “homeless core” and be praised for it.

If you are someone who can afford to indulge in this collaboration, I wouldn't bother. You're going to look outdated before you have time to take some outfit pictures for Instagram. Invest in vintage, it's more sustainable and generally made from better quality materials. 

This collection is a hard pass for me. Not only because of the exploitative nature but also the lackluster looks. But if you can afford to look poor and be praised for it go ahead, this collection is made for you.

[madsfashionmarketingunit1]

vogue. (2015). Balenciaga Spring 2016 Ready-to-Wear. [Online]. youtube. Last Updated: 3 October 2015. Available at: https://youtu.be/T5pAfcnZKu8?si=B7i155I5idW23lzx [Accessed 23 November 2023].

Balenciaga - Alexander Wang

[marketingaveclillie]

Alexander wang is an American fashion designer who was the creative designer from 2012 to 2015. alexander made sure to get his designs worn by celebs, influencers

the video below is the 'Balenciaga Spring 2016 Ready-to-Wear'

vogue. (2015). Balenciaga Spring 2016 Ready-to-Wear. [Online]. youtube. Last Updated: 3 October 2015. Available at: https://youtu.be/T5pAfcnZKu8?si=B7i155I5idW23lzx [Accessed 23 November 2023].

this collection by Alexander was his finale with balenciaga the video he talks about how he wanted to have fun with it etc

the references below are the websites i used to conclude my research on the designers

Haute history. (2021). HOUSE HISTORIES: THE BALENCIAGA TIMELINE. [Online]. Haute history. Last Updated: 9/10/2021. Available at: http://www.hautehistory.co.uk/balenciaga-timeline/category/all [Accessed 23 November 2023].​

​Fashion Quarterly. (2018). A short history of Balenciaga. [Online]. Fashion Quarterly. Last Updated: 18 JUNE 2018. Available at: ​https://fq.co.nz/gallery/short-history-balenciaga/ [Accessed 23 November 2023].​

[shikantazaart]

The Evolution of Cyberpunk Culture: From Dystopian Fiction to 2020s Fashion Runways

The term "cyberpunk" first gained traction in the early 1980s with the release of William Gibson's seminal novel, "Neuromancer," a work that blended high-tech realities with gritty urban landscapes. The genre soon flourished, spawning iconic works like Ridley Scott's 1982 film, "Blade Runner," and the 1993 video game, "Syndicate." But what was once confined to the pages of pulp science fiction and the screens of niche cinema has now transcended into fashion, art, and daily life. In other words, cyberpunk is not just a genre; it's a lifestyle and aesthetic. And it's happening now.

The Inception of Cyberpunk Traits Cyberpunk culture is characterized by a confluence of the futuristic and the retro, the high-tech and the grimy, often against a backdrop of social and political turmoil. Think neon lights, hackers, mega-corporations, and morally ambiguous protagonists. The genre highlights the dichotomy between man and machine, often blurring the lines between humanity and technology.

Works like "Ghost in the Shell," "The Matrix," and CD Projekt's video game "Cyberpunk 2077" have further cemented the genre's traits. These pieces offer a dystopian vision of the future, where technology has both elevated and enslaved humanity.

The Transition to Fashion Cyberpunk fashion initially drew inspiration from these narrative mediums, embracing the genre's signature elements: neon colors, asymmetrical designs, and materials like leather, latex, and metal. The aesthetic was countercultural and rebellious, echoing the themes of its parent genre.

Fast forward to the 2020s, and the evolution is clear. High-fashion brands like Prada, Alexander McQueen, and Balenciaga have dabbled in cyberpunk aesthetics, presenting collections filled with futuristic silhouettes, metallic fabrics, and digital prints.

The Designers Making Waves While the genre has inspired many designers, a standout name in the realm of cyberpunk fashion is Charlie Cohen. Known for her label "Charli Cohen," she has successfully blended sportswear elements with high-fashion aesthetics, underpinned by a cyberpunk ethos. Her work often features futuristic fabrics, asymmetrical cuts, and neon accents, embodying the core elements that define the genre.

Other Designers in the Arena:

Yohji Yamamoto: Known for his avant-garde creations, Yamamoto's designs often evoke a dystopian future. Iris van Herpen: Her designs use cutting-edge technology, like 3D printing, to bring cyberpunk to life. When High Fashion Goes Cyberpunk Big names in fashion have certainly caught on to the cyberpunk trend. Chanel's Pre-Fall 2016 collection drew inspiration from "Blade Runner," featuring garments that seemed straight out of a cyberpunk universe. Louis Vuitton's Spring 2019 collection also made headlines for its tech-inspired pieces, some of which included built-in OLED screens.

Conclusion: The Future Is Now From its origins in speculative fiction to its current manifestation in the fashion world, cyberpunk culture has not only endured but has thrived. Today, it influences not just what we read or watch but how we dress and perceive the world around us. The boundary-pushing elements of cyberpunk are not merely predictions for a far-off future; they are part of our present. The digital underworlds, neon-lit streets, and dystopian horizons have arrived. Cyberpunk is not an imagined future; it's happening, and it's happening now.

- Raz

[feliciagarrivan]

Harley Weir

About the Artist

Harley Weir’s photography has become synonymous with a way-of-seeing that is empathetic and true, approaching bodies, nature and materials with a tenderness that feels transcendent. Across commercial and editorial work, photography and filmmaking, the London-born artist has traced a visual atmosphere that has left an indelible impression, one imbued with a highly-attuned sense of colour and composition. An imagemaker who constantly subverts the expected, Weir has greatly influenced ideas of how a woman’s gaze might be engaged with, reshaped and made new in our current era.

For Weir, the camera is her tool for gaining knowledge, a deeply-felt imagemaking practice that extends into her personal projects. Wherever she travels, the photographer seeks a deep sense of collaboration with her subjects and their environment, an attitude that extends to forming partnerships beyond the frame. With her own varied projects, Weir has sought to increase awareness around plastic waste, the rights of refugees and migrants, marine conservation, and therapeutic support for young people, as well as raise funds for organisations supporting those causes.

To date, Weir has published five books: ‘Homes and Paintings’ with Loose Joints, 2016 and 2017; ‘Function’ with Baron, 2018; ‘Louis Vuitton Fashion Eye Iran’, 2018; and ‘Father’ with IDEA Books, 2019. Elsewhere, her work has also extended beyond the page to be exhibited at institutions like Foam Amsterdam – where her work is now part of the institution’s permanent collection – as well as Hannah Barry Gallery, Fabrica Gallery, 180 the Strand and MEP Gallery. Her latest show, taking place at Hannah Barry gallery in spring 2022, showcased unseen work as well as new, experimental pieces.

Weir’s widely-acclaimed editorial work has appeared in magazines such as Vogue Italia, L’Uomo Vogue, American Vogue, The Face, Re-Edition, Self-Service, W Magazine, Dazed, Pop, Marfa Journal, British Vogue, T Magazine, i-D, AnOther, System and M Le Monde; her brand collaborations across print and film have included Balenciaga, Gucci, Isabel Marant, Marc Jacobs, Blumarine, Ambush, Versace, Proenza Schouler, Salvatore Ferragamo, Courrèges, Missoni, Dior, as well as projects spotlighting her home city’s design talents such as Wales Bonner, Simone Rocha and Charlotte Knowles.

[softestaura]

Balenciaga Spring 2016 Ready-to-Wear

[dixt]

balenciaga · ss 16

[ladygarfunkel]

[myrunwayarchive]

Balenciaga Spring 2016 RTW

[glamrockandlove]

Balenciaga Spring 2016 Ready-to-Wear fashion show

[the-fashionhorse]

Zoe Kravitz at Balenciaga Spring 2016 RTW.  source vogue.com

[highendhoney]

Balenciaga, SS16

[humongousfanhologram]

Balenciaga Off White Satin Backpack Bag - Spring 2016