Balenciaga Spring 2020 Red Velvet Mini Dress | Look 71, As Worn by Bella Hadid
A Velvet Moment from Balenciaga's Spring 2020 Runway
This is look 71 from Balenciaga's Spring/Summer 2020 runway show, held in Paris on September 29, 2019, a fitted, off-the-shoulder mini dress in crushed red velvet that became one of the most memorable moments of the season when Bella Hadid walked it down the runway. The dress is part of a broader group of velvet mini dresses from this collection that played with sculptural, body-conscious silhouettes, some featuring the label's signature trompe l'oeil detailing elsewhere in the show.
Cut close to the body with long sleeves and a straight-across neckline that drops off the shoulders, the dress relies entirely on its rich, crushed velvet texture and deep red color for impact, no prints, no logos, just a clean, confident silhouette. It was styled on the runway with sculptural drop earrings, a small structured top-handle bag, and pale lace-up ankle boots, creating a striking contrast between the soft velvet and the harder-edged accessories.
Bella Hadid's turn in this dress was widely singled out by fashion media as a standout runway moment from the show, with several outlets specifically calling out the "velvet crush" of the look as one of her best of the entire Spring 2020 season across all the shows she walked. Her styling, a sleek, center-parted updo and minimal makeup, let the dress and its color do all the talking, reinforcing the piece's confident, no-frills appeal.
Styling Tips
Let the velvet and the color carry the look, just as it did on the runway — this dress doesn't need much else. Pair with sleek hair and minimal jewelry for an evening-ready silhouette, or take a cue from the show and add a striking pair of boots for a slightly harder-edged finish.
Photography ©Balenciaga
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