Style File: Same Genius, new Gig

If you’re like me, you can precisely recall when Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen really hit it big. I’m not talking about “Full House” or even “Passport to Paris.” I mean when they became legitimate fashion icons, creating a brand new sense of style and eventually designing the celebrated women’s wear line The Row.

It was way back in high school when the twins coined their “homeless chic” look: blanket-like tees and sweaters, messy hair, oversized sunglasses and, of course, a huge Balenciaga Lariat bag.

The moment I fell in love with the Olsens’ sense of style was also the first time I’d heard of Balenciaga. I’ve always been obsessed with fashion, but at the age of 15 I didn’t quite understand it the way I do now. I came home from school and read my favorite magazines cover to cover, but I only really knew the most famous labels, such as Chanel, Prada, and Valentino. Balenciaga certainly belongs in that high power category, but it was the Olsens who introduced it to me.

Not only have I remained a huge Balenciaga fan since that discovery, but Nicolas Ghesquière has become even more incredible with each collection. In his spring/summer 2013 collection, Ghesquière showed his mastery of proportion by pairing voluminous ruffled skirts with box-like cropped T-shirts. He styled high-waisted trousers with a molded strappy bra top, a look that was eventually worn by Balenciaga poster girl Kristen Stewart.

Fashion critics raved about these simple clothes exploding with movement, the genius proportions and expert mix of feminine and edgy. But what the fashion world didn’t know was that this was Ghesquière’s final runway show. After almost 15 years with Balenciaga, he announced he was branching out on his own.

We still aren’t sure what Ghesquière’s next step will be, but after his November departure, speculation as to who would fill his shoes sparked like wildfire. A few designers in particular were up for consideration: Joseph Altuzarra, Mary Katrantzou, Bouchra Jarrar, Pedro Laurenço and Christopher Kane, to name a few. All were passed over for, drum roll, please ... designer Alexander Wang.

I was pleasantly surprised not only because Wang is American and Balenciaga is a quintessentially French house, but also because he is so well known in multiple demographics. Fashion editors obsess over the shoes and bags in his eponymous collections, while young women like me frequently shop his lower-priced second line, T by Alexander Wang.

Now Balenciaga will be more familiar than ever, and with Wang at the helm, it’s safe to say die-hard Ghesquière fans will have high expectations come Paris Fashion Week. I personally can’t wait to stream Wang’s first Balenciaga show live on my computer at the end of the month. If I can’t be there in person, at least I can catch a quick glimpse of his debut.

­— emfarra@indiana.edu