Fodor's Expert Review Balenciaga

This venerable Paris house rose to fashion stardom under the brilliant Nicolas Ghesquière, whose architectural volumes and structural technique revolutionized the label. His abrupt departure in 2012 opened the door for American wunderkind Alexander Wang's brief tenure. A frisson of delight rocked the fashion world when it was announced, in late 2015, that underdog designer Demna Gvasalia, previously of Margiela and the ultracool insider label Vetements, would take the helm. The risk paid off immediately—his rigorously experimental street-wear-influenced designs, which use 3-D printing technology, are edgy, innovative, and surprisingly elegant.