This is not much of a surprise from Demna Gvasalia. Balenciaga's creative director has been splicing and combining two different elements together since the beginning of his tenure at the French fashion house. Previous examples have included coats cut (quite literally) from two different cloths, graphics made up of two different elements, and for autumn/winter 2018, the layers and layers of coats combined to form the infamous piece belonging to Friends' Joey Tribbiani.
Balenciaga's rather subdued and more wearable take on the layered coat this time around, comes in the form of this leather jacket that's layered over a cotton gabardine coat. Why would anyone want to layer a leather jacket over a cotton coat in the first place, you ask? To stay warmer, perhaps? Or maybe it's just fashion? We don't have all the answers but it does look oddly enchanting; as enchanting as wearing two T-shirts on top of each other, we suppose.
But really. With all things Balenciaga, the coat is impeccably well-made and is not as difficult to pull off as the Tribbiani coat. If you're still not convinced on a pre-layered outerwear, here are five other ways to spend SGD8,760.
Three Car Coats by Burberry (SGD2,850 each)
It looks somewhat like the inner layer of Balenciaga's layered coat, but you actually are able to peel back the layers or add onto it at your own discretion. Also, you can never go wrong with a Burberry outerwear.
Six leather jackets by Theory (approximately SGD1,340 each via Mr Porter)
A leather jacket that's simple and classic that you could probably pair with anything? That's a keeper. Theory is all about form and function too so the minimal design has been carefully thought through to ensure comfort.
Or combine them both to make your own layered set
For the price of one Balenciaga layered coat, you can create two sets by layering the Theory leather jacket over the Car Coat from Burberry. It won't be a seamless piece of outerwear but at least you can take one off once you've realised that that's just taking it too far.
Seven Shoulder Sleeve sweaters by Loewe (SGD1,150 each)
The perfect sweater for those of us who still get the chills on our shoulders even when wearing a wool and cashmere sweater.
19 layered silk-mesh ties by Title of Work (approximately SGD450 each via MatchesFashion.com)
Like a piece of art, New York-based brand Title of Work's tie is crafted from a silk-mesh that encapsulates pieces of fabric. The result is a piece that looks like a print from afar but is more than what it seems upon closer inspection.
22 denim wallets by CDG (SGD350 each via Dover Street Market Singapore)
A wallet made of denim but lined with leather compartments—a fine example of how things can be created by having a different perspective.
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