Piccioli Transforms Balenciaga With Color and Boldness

Pierpaolo Piccioli showed his first haute couture collection for Balenciaga on July 8, 2026, featuring bright colors and dramatic silhouettes—a sharp turn from the house's austere roots. After 25 years building a maximalist style at Valentino, Piccioli is now applying that personal language to a brand built on opposite principles. The haute couture debut proves his vision works; the real measure comes in ready-to-wear, where sales will show whether Kering backs his commercial instincts.