Balenciaga‘s new Bel Air handbag is introduced with help from Michelle Yeoh, Naomi Watts and Isabelle Huppert in the fashion house’s latest campaign.
In new imagery revealed on Thursday, each star creates their very own “character study.” Sitting in front of a white background, Yeoh, Watts and Huppert are dressed in signature Balenciaga ready-to-wear: trompe-l’oeil pantashoes, vintage-inspired graphics and evening dresses.
Michelle Yeoh for Balenciaga.
Nadav Kander
Named for the historic Los Angeles neighborhood, the Bel Air follows in the footsteps of Balenciaga’s Rodeo bag. That silhouette debuted this spring with a campaign fronted by Nicole Kidman and Amelia Gray.
The Bel Air initially was initially featured in Balenciaga’s fall 2024 presentation in Paris in March. WWD’s Miles Socha said the collection “stayed true to [creative director Demna Gvasalia’s] hardcore, DIY inclinations but with less angst and more wry humor, even playfulness.”
Naomi Watts for Balenciaga.
Nadav Kander
The Bel Air’s hallmark is a logo-engraved metal twist lock. Available in black and ivory colorways, the calfskin tote features two slender belts across the front, as well as a softened napa lining. The Bel Air comes in two different sizes, while the black iteration has both gold and silver hardware options.
“[The Bel Air’s] construction is deceptively relaxed, with a fortified, round-edged build designed to live as a timeless heirloom,” Balenciaga’s press release reads.
Yeoh and Huppert were officially named Balenciaga brand ambassadors in 2023, while Watts wore one of the label’s designs at this year’s Met Gala. Alongside her daughter, Kai Schreiber, Watts was also a front row fixture at Balenciaga’s latest couture presentation in June.
Isabelle Huppert for Balenciaga.
Nadav Kander
