Balenciaga Items That Are And Aren't Worth The Money

Among the top fashion houses in the industry, Balenciaga is paving the way for bold, new styles. The brand's Fall 2023 Vogue Runway show was ranked as one of the 10 most-viewed shows in the world, and Christian Dior himself once said that Balenciaga leads the way for haute couture everywhere.

At just 23 years old, Cristóbal Balenciaga opened his first fashion house in San Sebastian. In 1937, he made his debut in the fashion capital of the world: Paris. Since then, the Balenciaga brand has consistently been setting trends, not following them. Designs hailing from Balenciaga are known for being avant-garde and cutting-edge — but expensive.

While it's thrilling to splurge on a luxury item, not everything from Balenciaga is worth its hefty price tag. We make those big purchases with the hope that a new piece will become a staple in our closet — mixing and matching with other outfits until we're ready to retire it and trade it in for something new. But that just isn't always the case. We've all felt that pit in the bottom of our stomachs, known as buyer's remorse, when we realize our new item doesn't look as glamorous as it did in the picture or that it just wasn't worth the hype and the money. While many Balenciaga products are worthwhile investments, others don't live up to expectations. Here's a look at what you should skip and what you should consider splurging on.

You may have heard about Balenciaga's viral Trash Bag Pouch on social media when the bag debuted as part of the fashion house's Fall 2022 collection.

If you haven't seen it before, well, it looks exactly like you'd picture. The nylon-lined calfskin pouch is designed just like a drawstring garbage sack. The bag is available in either black or white, and the white option is even made complete with two red handles reminiscent of a classic trash bag. Wondering why this bag exists? Balenciaga's creative director, Demna Gvasalia, informed Women's Wear Daily, "I couldn't miss an opportunity to make the most expensive trash bag in the world." In that sense, it was a success. The pouch retails for $1,790.

While the Balenciaga bag is shinier and, of course, much sturdier than your everyday plastic garbage bag, it's still not worth the luxury price tag. There are far more attractive — and far less expensive — totes on the market.

Made of lambskin and cowskin, the Stan Smith Sneaker is part of a collaboration with Adidas, one of Balenciaga's primary brand partners. This footwear line features two versions of the shoe: the standard Stan Smith Sneaker, which retails for $800, and the Stan Smith Worn Out Sneaker, which retails for $850 in off white and $950 in black.

The line's distressed shoe is less versatile and yet more expensive. The scuffs, scratches, and overall dismal appearance prevent it from being worn in a professional setting. While you'll get more wear out of the standard sneakers, the basic white sneaker just falls flat — it doesn't have that extra oomph that says "luxury." And for $800, it should. If you're looking for shoes with a lived-in look, you'd be better off buying a pair of affordably priced sneakers — even similar-looking Adidas — and breaking them in on your own. 

There are plenty of good reasons to buy luxury shoes, but not all of them justify the hole they burn in your pocket — like the Balenciaga Steroid Boot, which retails for $1,400. These utilitarian boots made their debut at Balenciaga's New York Stock Exchange runway show in Spring 2023, featuring a solid black exterior that boldly combines a heavy-duty aesthetic with high fashion. 

The problem with these boots isn't actually the boots themselves. Made out of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), the Steroid Boot is water-resistant, insulating, and shock-absorbing, making them great for safety and long-term wear. These classic black lace-ups won't go with everything, but they can be styled as a statement piece with a casual look or matched with an industrial-style fit.

However, the exaggerated ridged outsole is reminiscent of Balenciaga's other designs featured in the collection — and plenty of other shoes, too. Despite the boots' many merits, they aren't especially unique. Many EVA boots are far more affordable, including Crocs Allcast Waterproof Rain Boot, which retail for just $50.

If the Winter 2023 runway collections made an influence on any fabric's resurfacing into the sartorial trends, it was certainly velvet. From crushed to colorful velvet, it was everywhere. While the very best velvet evokes grandeur, the worst velvet can err on the side of tacky, making it a tricky material to style. The fabric also requires more intensive cleaning (due to the fact that it easily absorbs dust), which can make caring for it more difficult than other materials. If worn or used often, velvet can also wear down quickly. 

One of the velvet items to hit the runway in 2023 was the Balenciaga Maxi Skirt made of velvet jersey and available in lilac and black. In addition to being difficult to style, the skirt's length makes it a dust collector. Plus, this item isn't exactly easy on the wallet. We'd suggest skipping the $1,390 skirt and opting for a less expensive and shorter version from another brand, like the Velvet Knit High Waisted Twist Detail Front Slit Midi Skirt by Karl Lagerfeld Paris.

Another member of the Summer 2023 collection is the Balenciaga Bold Necklace in the color gold. This accessory pairs with the Bold Earrings, but it falls short in ways that really matter. Both are made of brass and have a warm appearance; however, this necklace is bold in more ways than one. At $2,850, the simple clasp necklace is more than triple the price of the coordinating $895 earrings. Yes, we double-checked — the enormous price tag is indeed correct.

If the necklace were less expensive, we would consider adding it to the nice list, right along with its matching partner in the earrings section. But at nearly $3,000 for a fairly plain chain, it doesn't set a stomach at ease — especially considering brass requires gentle care and cleaning to keep it looking nice. Skip the spendy necklace this time because it's just not worth it.

When you're preparing for the cold, a scarf is often the answer for achieving both sensibility and style. Buying a luxury scarf can be a big decision, especially since there are so many options among an array of labels. One of those options is the Balenciaga Allover Logo Macro Scarf, which is made of brushed wool and features the Balenciaga logo repeatedly printed across the garment. It's offered in four colors: indigo, pink, bright green, and brown. Unfortunately, none of these color choices say, "Buy me!"

While the brushed wool will keep you warm enough to face the winter, this scarf doesn't offer the cozy-by-the-fireplace softness of cashmere. And while $625 isn't the heftiest price tag for a high-end scarf, don't drop hundreds of dollars on this logo-studded scarf that looks more generic than designer. We recommend the cozy Hermes Stole, with its jacquard weave and ultra-soft cashmere, or the warm Burberry Check Cashmere Scarf, instead.