In a month that has seen the rise of purses shaped like pigeons, celebs wearing heels in the shape of broken eggs and dresses that can be spray painted on (thanks JW Anderson, Loewe and Coperni, respectively), we might have been fooled into thinking that nothing could shock us anymore.
But life comes at you fast — and Balenciaga comes at you faster.
The latest “It” bag from arguably the hottest fashion brand there is right now has been confirmed as... a clutch shaped like a bag of crisps. A bag of Lays crisps, to be specific.
So just in case you were missing your summer hols, here’s an expensive reminder that you’re not on them, nor are you munching away on delicious non-UK based crisps.
The Instagram account @denmagram, which acts as an unofficial spokesperson for Balenciaga creative director Denma Gvasalia, as well as posting Balenciaga news and releases, has been teasing the release of the bag, revealing videos and pics of the various colourways — or, I guess, flavours? — that will be available when it eventually goes on sale.
The collaboration with Lays has four iterations: blue, yellow, red, and lime green. Going by Lays flavours, these colours translate to the salt and vinegar, classic, smokin’ hot and límon flavours — however, all the bigs are simply labelled as “Balenciaga” instead of their usual flavour description.
The bag was first teased in June, when Denma attended the graduation show of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts’ Fashion Department in Antwerp cradling an actual bag of Lays as an accessory.
Then the real thing made its way onto the SS23 Balenciaga runway, which was opened by Kanye West and saw models wading through a muddy catwalk in their various avant garde outfits.
The bag is made from leather and features a zip clasp so that it can be closed. The price of the bag is not yet confirmed, but fashion insider Instagram account Diet Prada has reported that it’s rumoured to be around $1,800.
It’s just one of multiple talking points that came out of Balenciaga’s muddy SS23 show, which featured a leather bag that can be worn as a sleeve, bruised and bloody beauty looks, and models carrying children in baby carriers.
