Through ‘ClairObscur’, Balenciaga’s Winter 2026 collection, Pierpaolo Piccioli explores light and shadow as tools to reveal volume, structure and movement in a new campaign photographed by Robin Galiegue.
Some silhouettes only reveal themselves when the light hits them. Balenciaga translates that idea into ‘ClairObscur’, photographed by Robin Galiegue and starring Anok Yai, Liu Wen and Dara Gueye. Under Pierpaolo Piccioli, light and darkness become a way of defining both the body and the space around it.
Inspired by Renaissance chiaroscuro, the collection uses shadow to build form. High collars, rounded shoulders and curved backs emerge gradually from darkness, giving the clothes a sculptural presence that connects with Balenciaga’s architectural heritage while introducing a softer sense of movement.
That contrast extends through materials and colour. Hooded jackets, peacoats and blousons appear in leather, shearling and wool, while paillette-covered satin catches and redirects the light. Acid brights interrupt the darker palette, reinforcing the tension between illumination and shadow.
Accessories continue the study of proportion. The Hourglass Avenue Bag revisits the familiar Hourglass line, while the Le 7 Bowling Bag adopts a softer, enveloping construction. The Bloom Pump and Midnight City Mule bring exaggerated curves into the same dialogue between structure and ease.
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