• Luxury at H&M Prices: Elie Saab Brings Couture Codes to the Mass Market

  Lebanese fashion house Elie Saab is taking another step beyond the world of haute couture. Through its new collaboration with H&M, the brand is bringing its signature couture codes to a more accessible segment, offering a wider audience the elements that have made Saab a favorite among fashion lovers: lavish embellishment, glamorous evening silhouettes and impeccable tailoring, according to Forbes...

• $100 Billion Has Vanished: Is the Era of Shein and Out-of-Control Fast Fashion Finally Coming to an End?

  Not long ago, it seemed as though Shein was on a path to global domination. The Chinese fashion giant promised a new era of fast fashion: new items could appear on its website within a matter of hours, while entire outfits could be assembled for less than $10. The model proved so irresistible that it quickly turned into a global addiction, The Independent reports...

• Pucci Returns to Its Roots: Camille Miceli Turns Medieval Horse Racing Into Modern Luxury

  For several years, Emilio Pucci creative director Camille Miceli has explored the psychedelic and hippie-chic side of the Italian house’s heritage. Now, the designer has turned her attention to a lesser-known chapter of its history...

• Chanel in All Its Glory: New Necklace Showcases a Rare 20.66-Carat Sri Lankan Sapphire

  Lion, camellia, star and sun — all of Chanel’s iconic symbols come together in a single jewelry masterpiece, crowned by an exceptionally rare sapphire...

• Why Are Luxury Brands Being Forced to Cut Prices?

  Earlier this year, a medium-sized Gucci Mercato leather tote designed by Demna for the Spring/Summer 2026 collection would have cost you $2,900. But in May, Bernstein analysts noticed a change: Gucci had quietly cut the price of the bag by around 20–25%, Vogue reports...

• Suit with braces: What the British Prime Minister's wardrobe choice says about him

  Fashion subculture, a nod to 80s excess, or a symbol of tradition? British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s wardrobe has once again become a topic of fashion debate after he appeared in public wearing a suit with braces, The Guardian writes...

• “It Doesn’t Even Cover the Nipple”: Influencer Mocks Kim Kardashian’s Microscopic Skims Bodysuit

  Influencer Remi Bader put Skims’ new Fits Everybody collection to a rather revealing test—and, judging by her reaction, she was far from impressed with the result...

• Gray Suit and Unbuttoned Shirt: Why Killer Luigi Mangione’s Wardrobe Became New York’s Biggest Fashion Show

  High-profile trials have captured public attention for over 130 years, and throughout history, the public has scrutinized defendants' outfits with equal fervor. Another confirmation of this is Luigi Mangione, whose courtroom appearances sparked a fierce reaction not only in legal circles but also in the fashion world, writes WWD...

You’ve probably seen the infamous yellow trash bag from the Beijing International Film Festival, priced at $1,790, courtesy of Balenciaga. In just a few days, meme videos featuring it went viral across social media.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NEWS.am STYLE (@style.news.am)

But this is nothing new for Balenciaga. The brand has long thrived on this kind of contrast, consistently taking everyday or overlooked items and transforming them into luxury accessories with four-figure price tags. This approach has made Balenciaga not just a fashion house, but a kind of social experiment—testing the blurry boundary between ordinary and expensive.

This is exactly what’s now called meme luxury: when an item exists both as a product and as a reaction to it. Here’s a roundup of some of the most talked-about pieces from Balenciaga’s collections, each sparking questions—and eyebrow raises—about their price tags.

Balenciaga Tape Bracelet – Around $3,000

Released in 2024, this bracelet looks like ordinary packing tape but keeps its shape perfectly. Its simplicity and directness have made it one of the most discussed accessories in recent collections.

IKEA Balenciaga Arena Extra-Large Shopper – Around $2,000

From 2017, this bag nearly replicates the iconic blue IKEA Frakta. It was one of the earliest high-profile examples of taking a mass-market object, leaving its form intact, and placing it in the luxury segment.

“Homeless” Balenciaga Outfit – Up to $3,000

Layered looks designed to appear worn or randomly assembled actually require intricate construction. The aesthetic of casual disarray is precisely what gives the pieces their allure.

“Homeless” Balenciaga Sneakers – Around $1,800

Not just the outfit—these sneakers feature deliberate scuffs and wear, designed to look like they’ve been used for years. That “tired” look is their signature characteristic.

Balenciaga Marche Packable Men’s Bag – Around $1,000

A tote shaped like a crumpled plastic bag, crafted from durable nylon capable of holding up to 10 kg. It debuted in the brand’s Winter 2025 collection.

Balenciaga x Crocs Platform – Around $850

From 2017–2018, Balenciaga transformed simple rubber Crocs into exaggerated platform shoes, an early example of turning a purely utilitarian item into a luxury fashion statement.

Balenciaga continues to blur the lines between high fashion and meme culture, challenging our ideas of value, utility, and humor in luxury.

Follow NEWS.am STYLE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram