# Stiffly Structured Dresses Balenciaga's Fall 2008 Collection By Sandra Winn | Published 2008-09-09 | Luxury Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/balenciaga-by-nicholas-ghesquieres References: [lamag](http://www.lamag.com/shop/blog.aspx?id=9576&blogid=952) & [nymag](http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshows/2008/fall/main/europe/womenrunway/balenciaga/index1.html#) The Fall 2008 [Balenciaga](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/winter-2025-campaign) collection by Designer Nicholas Ghesquierres, featured gorgeous Robert Plant-like *Addicted to Love* video vixens parading down the catwalk in [ready-to-wear futuristic type look clothing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/khaotique-noir). Sexy little black dresses, raincoat attire, cute minis with thigh-high boots, and other notable fashions wear worn by models with solemn faces, slicked back hair, and dark eye-makeup. Seriously, to me they look a bit like “vampiresses.” The first Balenciaga dress pictured is so popular that not only did *Vogue* put it on this month’s cover girl, Keira Knightley, but it is also featured in *Harper’s Bazaar*—I checked and sure enough, Laurie from Los Angeles Magazine, was on spot on when it comes to the popularity with magazines over the dress. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.5/10 - Popularity: 62% | Activity: 95% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 10% men, 90% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Luxury](https://www.trendhunter.com/luxury) > [Luxury Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/luxuryfashion) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Futuristic Fashion:** The Balenciaga Fall 2008 Collection showcased futuristic clothing styles, presenting an opportunity for designers to explore innovative and avant-garde fashion. - **Thigh-high Boots:** Thigh-high boots made a statement in the Balenciaga Fall 2008 Collection, creating a trend for footwear brands to experiment with bold and daring designs. - **Vampiress Aesthetic:** The dark and vampiress-inspired makeup and styling in the Balenciaga Fall 2008 Collection opened up avenues for cosmetics companies to create edgy and gothic-inspired beauty products. ### Where This Applies - **Fashion Design:** The Balenciaga Fall 2008 Collection sets a new direction for fashion designers to explore futuristic and boundary-pushing aesthetics in their own collections. - **Footwear:** The thigh-high boots showcased in the Balenciaga Fall 2008 Collection offer an opportunity for footwear brands to capitalize on the trend by creating statement-making designs. - **Cosmetics:** The vampiress aesthetic featured in the Balenciaga Fall 2008 Collection presents a chance for cosmetics companies to develop edgy and gothic-inspired makeup and beauty products. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Star-Studded Fashion Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/winter-2025-campaign.md) - [Statement-Making Fall Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/auteur-studios-fall-2025.md) - [Contemporary Fashion Retrospectives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/balenciaga-by-demna.md) - [Underwear-Imitating Hybrid Garments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cut-off-brief-skirt.md) - [High Fashion Mud Runways](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/balenciaga-2023-runway.md) - [Luxe Fashion Porcelain Figurines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/porcelain-figurines-1.md) - [Holiday-Inspired Evening Wear Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcqueen-holiday-2025.md) - [Towel-Resembling Luxe Skirts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/towel-skirt.md) - [Politically-Inspired Runway Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/selkies-the-libertine-collection.md)