Gvasalia is quick to admit that Balenciaga’s pre-collections aren’t really about newness. The off-seasons are chances to elaborate on what he calls the house’s “archetypes,” pieces like oversized car coats and parkas; the swingy Vareuse dress; logo denim; tracksuits, hoodies, and tees, of course; and the funnily named pantashoes. This time around, the styling was done completely on-screen. “It was an experiment in showing you don’t always need the new,” Gvasalia says. “Fashion has become a race, running after novelty, and more and more. And here we did the opposite. We looked at what we have and asked what we can do with it so it looks different for the customer.” Sharp observers may notice what the designer calls the collection’s “humor” and glean the sense that it’s about “taking things easier and just chilling out a bit.” There are house slipper-style mules and thong sandals worn with matching socks.