Balenciaga Spring 2017 Campaign T-Shirt | As Worn by Beyoncé
A Runway Campaign Turned Celebrity Streetwear Staple
This is the Balenciaga Spring/Summer 2017 campaign t-shirt, featuring an image of model Alek Wek shot by acclaimed photographer Harley Weir. The design pulls directly from Balenciaga's SS17 ad campaign, which Weir shot against a dramatic red-curtained backdrop as part of Demna Gvasalia's fetish-and-spandex-driven collection for the house. Rather than treating campaign photography as disposable marketing, Gvasalia turned the image into a piece of wearable art, an oversized, faded grey cotton tee with the campaign photo printed boldly across the chest.
The tee is cut in Balenciaga's signature oversized fit, with dropped shoulders and a relaxed, boxy silhouette that has become one of the house's most recognizable design codes under Gvasalia. It's a piece that blurs the line between fashion advertising and ready-to-wear, letting the wearer put an entire campaign moment on their back.
This exact tee made headlines in December 2017 when Beyoncé wore it on a private plane, styled with Off-White cut-off shorts, a dramatically long Y/Project belt, an MCM crossbody bag, and Anthony Vaccarello's now-iconic $10,000 crystal-embellished Saint Laurent boots. The look, shared on her own Instagram, was widely covered across fashion media and helped push the $495 tee into cult status among collectors and Beyoncé style archivists alike.
The moment is a perfect example of how Gvasalia-era Balenciaga crossed over from runway and campaign imagery into everyday celebrity wardrobes, proof that even a t-shirt built around ad photography could become a genuine style moment.
Styling Tips
Take a cue from Beyoncé's styling and let the tee anchor a high-low mix: pair it with denim shorts or cut-offs and a statement belt for an off-duty look, or dress it up with tailored trousers and heeled boots for something more elevated. Because the fit runs oversized, sizing down is an option if you prefer a less voluminous silhouette.
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