From those infamous DHL T-shirts at Vetements, the brand Demna Gvasalia founded, to Crocs at Balenciaga, the other label he leads, the designer is fashion’s favourite provocateur. He’s at it again. This week, he set the web on fire when Balenciaga unveiled its men’s T-shirt shirt, an artful combination of a cotton button-up shirt attached to a T-shirt that sells for HK$10,300-HK$11,800 (US$1,300-$1,500) on the brand’s website. Everyone weighed in, from the BBC to The New York Times and dozens of internet users who came up with amusing Instagram memes.
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The controversy was very well timed, perhaps strategically so, as it happened barely a month after Balenciaga had to deal with calls for a boycott in China, following allegations that Chinese customers were mistreated at one of its Parisian stores.
Gvasalia, however, is not the only designer who in recent seasons has come up with garish and gimmicky items that are made for the Instagram generation and are certainly not the definition of investment pieces. Here are some others:
Thom Browne Hector bag
The American designer is so fond of Hector, his dachshund, that he turned his likeness into a men’s purse. The dog-shaped bag also comes in silver and gold and is currently available on the brand’s website for US$2,600.
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Gucci New York Yankees beanie
Gucci’s Alessandro Michele is a master at making OTT statement pieces, chief among them those ubiquitous fur loafers. If this season you’re in the market for a bejewelled New York Yankees beanie, you’ll find it at one of the brand’s boutiques.
Loewe Aladdin sneakers
While we’re fond of Loewe’s chic bags, especially the Puzzle and the Hammock, the brand’s foray into ugly sneakers is, well, just ugly. These Aladdin trainers, which debuted at the spring/summer 2018 women’s show and are now available for men, are impractical and ridiculous.
Dolce & Gabbana teddy bear backpack and slippers
Italian brand Dolce & Gabbana loves an Instagram moment and this backpack and slippers combo, which masquerades as fluffy teddy bears, is another example of that. The faux fur items, available at the label’s Canton Road boutique, will set you back HK$9,700 (the backpack) and HK$5,500 (the slippers).
Nike bag slides
We never thought that we would include the sportswear giant in this round-up, but sometimes even practicality can be taken too far. The brand’s Benassi JDI slides now come with a pouch, where you can store your keys and Octopus card (like London’s Oyster and credit-card sized, and used for the metro and at convenience stores). Definitely useful, but sometimes sacrificing design for functionality is not a good idea.
