Paris Haute Couture Week 2025: Balenciaga bids farewell to Demna with Kim Kardashian gracing the runway, while Maison Margiela and Robert Wun wow with upcycled pieces and surrealist horror respectively

Jul 10 , 2025

Kim Kardashian walked the Balenciaga haute couture runway clad in an outfit inspired by Elizabeth Taylor. Photo: Handout

A trio of showcases closing the season saw Kardashian channelling Elizabeth Taylor for Balenciaga, Glenn Martens making his debut at Maison Margiela, and macabre imagery from Hong Kong-born Robert Wun

From a celebrity-filled farewell to a much-awaited debut, the last day of the autumn/winter 2025 haute couture shows was filled with great moments.

Here are highlights from three shows.

Balenciaga: Demna’s swansong

A houndstooth skirt suit paired with a ladylike handbag and jewellery by Lorraine Schwartz. Photo: Handout

Earlier this year, it was announced that Demna would be leaving Balenciaga to join Gucci as artistic director. He is being replaced by Italian designer Pierpaolo Piccioli, formerly of Valentino.

Luxury group Kering – the company behind Balenciaga, Gucci, and other high-profile brands such as Saint Laurent and Bottega Veneta – is pulling out all the stops to pay homage to Demna’s time at Balenciaga.

In the days leading up to his last show, the company hosted “Balenciaga by Demna”, an exhibition held at Kering’s headquarters on the Left Bank of Paris. The exhibition charted highlights from his remarkable 10-year run, from the designer’s show-stealing couture ball gowns to his meme-worthy “ugly sneakers” and other viral creations.

Liu Wen wears a blue evening gown from the Balenciaga haute couture collection. Photo: Handout

While Demna is a polarising figure and has just as many detractors as loyal fans, the pieces on display – not to mention the throngs of visitors lining up to check them out – showed his incredible influence on the fashion world over the last decade.

Balenciaga’s 54th haute couture collection, the designer’s swansong, was a fitting way to cap such a remarkable ride.

Held at the label’s historic haute couture salon on 10 Avenue George V, the show was a heartfelt homage to all the people who have contributed to the success of Balenciaga over the last decade. Before Sade’s “Ordinary Love” started playing, a recording of first names played on the soundtrack. From Kim Kardashian and Isabelle Huppert – two long-time ambassadors who also walked in the show – to members of the team, each of them had recorded their own name. The last name was that of Demna himself.

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Paris Haute Couture Week 2025: Balenciaga bids farewell to Demna with Kim Kardashian gracing the runway, while Maison Margiela and Robert Wun wow with upcycled pieces and surrealist horror respectively

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Balenciaga: Demna’s swansong