“Kim Kardashian was caught googling herself as she brought back the booty in a second block colour latex dress and quirky boots from controversial designer Balenciaga.”, — write: www.dailymail.co.uk
Ahead of the brand’s show in the French capital the businesswoman, 44, stepped out in a full white look including the designer’s classic long heeled boots – after wearing a similar outfit in pink while out on Tuesday night.
In 2022 the brand sparked outrage with an advert showing kids posing alongside various BDSM-themed items. Just two years later in 2024 Kim was named as one of their new brand ambassadors after working closely with them for years.
Kim has previously starred in Balenciaga campaigns, walked in its shows and accompanied its former creative director Demna Gvasalia to the 2021 Met Gala.
On Wednesday ahead of the show – which was also attended by newly single Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez, Nicole Kidman, Cardi B and Salma Hayek – she turned heads in the white number, which she teamed with oversized dark sunglasses.
And as Kim headed into the building with her phone screen visible, she was checking out pictures of her in the pink look from the day before.
The star also had hair clips attached to her black hair as she brought back the trend.
The mum-of-four cut a serious figure and failed to raise a smile as she climbed out of her chauffer-driven car and headed inside for the show.
The fitting on the Tuesday night was presumably in preparation for Balenciaga’s Paris Fashion week show on Wednesday.
The reality star, who previously refused to cut ties with the brand but said she was ‘shaken and disgusted’ by the inappropriate advert, posted a statement announcing her partnership with the label under its then creative director Demna.
The statement read: ‘For several years now, Balenciaga’s designs have been a part of my many looks – and some of my most iconic fashion moments.
‘This historic fashion house embraces modernity, craftsmanship and takes an innovative approach to design under Demna.
‘For me, this long-standing relationship is built on mutual trust and a commitment to doing what’s right. I’m excited about this next chapter for the brand and to become their ambassador.’
Back in November 2022, the fashion house came under fierce fire after it released an ad that showed kids posing alongside various BDSM-themed items.
Kim initially faced backlash for refusing to cut ties with the brand and praising the way it handled the scandal, despite her claiming to be ‘shaken’ and ‘disgusted’ by the images.
Since then, she has made her loyalty clear by participating in an advert for Balenciaga’s upcoming Summer 2024 collection.
Clearly embarrassed by their ill-judged campaign, Balenciaga took the drastic step of wiping its social media pages clean after the controversy.
‘I have been quiet for the past few days, not because I haven’t been shocked and outraged by the recent Balenciaga campaigns, but because I wanted an opportunity to speak to their team to understand for myself how this could have happened,’ the Los Angeles-born celebrity said in a statement on her Instagram page at the time.
She continued: ‘As a mother of four, I have been shaken by those disturbing images. The safety of children must be held with the highest regard and anything against it should have no place in our society – period.’
She subsequently reissued the statement that saw some of the wording changed using stronger language adding: ‘any attempts to normalize child abuse of any kind should have no place in our society – period.’
However, on balance, Kardashian said at the time that she was comfortable with how the company reacted to the scandal.
‘I appreciate Balenciaga’s removal of the campaigns and apology. In speaking with them, I believe they understand the seriousness of the issue and will take the necessary measures for this to never happen again.’
In an additional post, to both Instagram and Twitter, Kardashian said she was reconsidering her relationship with the fashion brand but had not yet many any firm decisions.
‘As for my future with Balenciaga, I am currently re-evaluating my relationship with the brand, basing it off their willingness to accept accountability for something that should have never happened to begin with — & the actions I am expecting to see them take to protect children.’
She was famously introduced to Balenciaga Creative Director Demna by her ex, Kanye West with the couple’s daughters also sporting the brand too.
She acknowledged the role her ex-husband had played in the relationship in December 2021 as she spoke at the People’s Choice Awards where she accepted an award for fashion.
‘To Kanye, for really introducing me to the fashion world,’ she said. ‘I fell in love with fashion and I’m so inspired by so many people. But again, this is like a dream that I get to wake up and wear these amazing clothes and try new things and take a risk. I’m so humbled.’
At the time, Vogue described it as ‘the peak of Kardashian’s Balenciaga moment.’
Balenciaga is owned by Kering; the corporation also owns Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Bottega Veneta, Yves Saint Laurent and Creed.
On Twitter at the time, users appeared skeptical of Kardashian’s statement at the time with many suggesting only a complete the complete cutting of ties from the brand would be appropriate.
Balenciaga publicly apologized and announced that it will be swiping off the ad from all of its social media profiles.
‘We sincerely apologize for any offense our holiday campaign may have caused. Our plush bear bags should not have been featured with children in this campaign.
‘We have immediately removed the campaign from all platforms,’ the high-end luxury house shared on Instagram.
The scandal erupted when Balenciaga released its 2022 Holiday ad campaign that featured children posing with its Plush Toy Bag. The bags look like teddy bears and are dressed in BDSM gear.
In the photo shoot, the kids also appeared surrounded by empty wine and champagne glasses.
The distinctly adult themes immediately troubled many who asked why children had ever been used.
Balenciaga ignored the scandal at first and seemingly allowed the photographer who was involved, Gabriele Galimberti, to take the heat.
He released a statement saying he had no control over the content of the shoot and eventually, Balenciaga released its own statement agreeing with him and taking responsibility for the campaign.
It has now been pulled from the internet.
The hidden child porn documents
After the BDSM bears fiasco, eagle-eyed critics started examining the rest of Balenciaga’s campaigns closely.
They soon discovered that in the background of an image from the Spring ’23 campaign was a printout of a Supreme Court ruling on whether or not internet child porn can be legally considered free speech.
On the back of the bears scandal, many critics said it pointed to a troubling pattern within Balenciaga.
Balenciaga was quick to blame North Six, a production company that helped arrange the shoot, for the inclusion of those documents.
They claimed that they entrusted all of the props from the photoshoot to North Six, and that their team was assured everything that was included was fake.
The troubling book of artist whose work depicts naked, castrated toddlers
Balenciaga is yet to answer for the inclusion of a book by Michael Borremans in the background of two of the images from the Spring ’23 campaign.
Borremans is a Belgian painter whose work includes a troubling 2017 series called Fire From The Sun.
It depicts naked toddlers – some of them castrated – playing in a group and at times alone.
Lawyers for the brand are yet to address DailyMail.com’s questions about how the book ended up on the photoshoot.