Balenciaga, one of the most talked-about names in fashion, has made a headline-grabbing move in July 2025 by appointing Pierpaolo Piccioli as Balenciaga’s new creative director. This appointment of Balenciaga’s new creative director takes place with immediate effect from 10 July, Piccioli takes over following Demna’s exit and shift to creative leadership at Gucci, marking a watershed moment in Kering’s brand recalibration. Balenciaga’s new creative director appointment sets the stage for one of the boldest creative transitions in fashion’s recent history.

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👔 Who is Pierpaolo Piccioli?

Piccioli, a native of Nettuno, Italy, is best known for reshaping Valentino during his 25-year tenure. Originally co-creative director with Maria Grazia Chiuri (now at Dior), he led the maison solo from 2016 until his departure in 2024. His legacy is defined by:

• Architectural haute couture silhouettes
• Bold colour blocking and monochrome experiments
• Red-carpet dominance with celebrities like Florence Pugh, Zendaya, and Anne Hathaway
• Critical acclaim for presentations in Paris, Rome, Venice, and Beijing

At Valentino, Piccioli boosted brand visibility during post-pandemic luxury booms and reconnected younger audiences to couture, particularly via social media virality and red-carpet symbolism.

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📊 Fashion Industry Context: 2025’s Creative Shakeup

Piccioli’s appointment isn’t happening in isolation. The year 2025 has been a turning point:

Brand	New Creative Director	Previous Director	Shift Summary
Gucci	Demna (ex-Balenciaga)	Sabato De Sarno	Streetwear revival
Dior	Peter Do (rumoured)	Maria Grazia Chiuri	Modern tailoring focus
Chanel	Virginie Viard exits	TBC	Classicism under review
Valentino	Alessandro Michele	Piccioli	Boho meets glamour

Kering’s reshuffle at Balenciaga, Gucci, and Bottega Veneta reflects its goal to reposition brands amid slowed growth, rising Gen Z influence, and high demand for both authenticity and exclusivity.

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🧵 Why Balenciaga Chose Piccioli: Couture Meets Commerce

Kering’s official statement praised Piccioli as “a master of haute couture” with “a unique creative vision.” Yet the decision signals deeper intentions:

• Aesthetic Reset: Moving away from Demna’s memeable, dystopian branding toward beauty, elegance, and heritage
• Elevating Brand Equity: Couture excellence and fashion art matter more in a maturing market
• Expanding Client Base: Attracting older and more traditional high-net-worth clients alongside progressive luxury consumers

Demna’s version of Balenciaga brought viral moments and rapid merch sales, but luxury’s top end has shifted. Clients are prioritising emotional connection, timeless silhouettes, and authenticity.

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🎭 What Will Piccioli’s Balenciaga Look Like?

Piccioli is expected to show his first collection in October 2025. Whether it’s a full runway debut or a softer reveal remains to be seen. His potential strengths for Balenciaga include:

• Reactivating Cristóbal Balenciaga’s archival DNA (volume, geometry, restraint)
• Redefining ready-to-wear as wearable art
• High fashion with humanistic undertones
• Rebuilding accessories with longevity (a Piccioli weak spot at Valentino)

The real challenge: merging his romanticism with Balenciaga’s streetwear heritage, without alienating either camp.

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👜 Balenciaga vs. Valentino: Performance Comparison (Pre-2025)

Metric	Valentino (under Piccioli)	Balenciaga (under Demna)
Peak Annual Revenue	~€1.4 billion (2022)	~€2.1 billion (2022)
Social Media Followers (IG)	18 million	14 million
Couture Focus	High	Relaunched (2021)
Accessories Share	Low to Moderate	High (Sneakers + Bags)

Valentino under Piccioli leaned heavily into couture, celebrity dressing, and emotion-led campaigns. By contrast, Balenciaga has been commercial, fast-paced, and often polarising.

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🧠 Couture Meets Culture: The Social Impact of Piccioli’s Work

Piccioli’s couture was among the most celebrated of the last decade. It was inclusive, casting diverse models and challenging narrow beauty norms. He frequently referenced:

• Feminist narratives
• Renaissance and religious art
• Gender-neutral silhouettes
• Poetic storytelling over spectacle

This philosophical backbone may inject intellectual credibility into Balenciaga’s next era—crucial for engaging critics, curators, and high-value collectors.

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🔮 What This Means for Kering and the Fashion World

Kering’s stock is likely to see long-term impact from this directional move. Balenciaga, one of its crown jewels, must now:

• Grow haute couture revenue
• Rebuild mid-tier product trust (after controversy backlash)
• Compete with LVMH’s Dior and Chanel on cultural capital

This appointment signals that Kering is investing in timeless luxury rather than trending virality—a pivot that mirrors macro-luxury trends post-2023.

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“Piccioli is one of the most talented and celebrated designers of today… His mastery of haute couture and passion for savoir-faire made him the ideal choice for the house.” – Francesca Bellettini, Deputy CEO of Kering

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Final Word: A New Future for Balenciaga

This is more than a leadership shuffle—it’s a transformation. With Pierpaolo Piccioli, Balenciaga is embracing fashion as art again, focusing on storytelling, structure, and sustainability.

Kering’s long-term strategy now hinges on whether the couture purist can make beauty, not noise, the new business model for 21st-century luxury.

Stay ahead of fashion’s next evolution right here.

Since its inception, Rolex has stood as a towering icon in the realm of Swiss watchmaking. A symbol of unrivalled craftsmanship and timeless design, the Rolex name is synonymous with prestige, wealth, and power. Among its prestige offerings, the Rolex Gold Day-Date, famously dubbed the “President’s Watch,” reigns supreme at the top of Rolex’s luxury food chain. While the brand’s most popular offerings like the Submariner, GMT-Master, Explorer, and Datejust have earned adoration from collectors and enthusiasts globally, one timepiece reigns supreme at the top of Rolex’s luxury food chain: the Rolex Day-Date, also famously dubbed the “President’s Watch.”

Introduced in 1956, the Rolex Day-Date became the world’s first wristwatch to display both the date and the full day of the week spelt out in an arched window at the 12 o’clock position. It was an innovation that not only marked a technological leap but also carved the Day-Date’s unique place in horological history.

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The Genesis: From Wilsdorf & Davis to Rolex Royalty

Founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis, Rolex began its life as Wilsdorf & Davis in London. By 1908, Wilsdorf registered the name “Rolex”—a word with no meaning, chosen for its brevity, easy pronunciation in various languages, and symmetry. It wouldn’t take long for the brand to etch itself into the hearts of collectors.

Fast-forward to 1956, Rolex shifted from complicated models like the 1949 Triple Calendar Moonphase (Ref. 8171, aka Padellone) and the 1950 Oyster-cased Ref. 6062 (Stelline), towards simplicity married with elegance. Both these earlier models were discontinued by 1953, paving the way for a more refined interpretation of prestige: the Day-Date.

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Rolex Gold Day-Date Day-Date Ref. 6510 & 6511 (1956–1957): Breaking New Ground

The original Day-Date came in two versions—Ref. 6510 with a smooth bezel and Ref. 6511 with a fluted bezel—crafted exclusively in yellow, pink, or white gold. This exclusivity in precious metals has continued throughout the model’s history, with one minor anomaly we’ll explore later.

What set this watch apart was the patent-pending mechanism developed by Rolex engineer Marc Huguenin (Swiss patent CH322341A, 1955), allowing the full spelling of the weekday alongside the date. The 36mm Oyster case with a twin-lock crown enabled 100 metres of water resistance—remarkable for a dress watch of that era. The original models featured champagne or rare black dials with applied gold indices and Dauphine hands, topped with acrylic crystal.

Although beautiful, early models had technical flaws with date advancement, leading to their quick replacement.

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Rolex Gold Day-Date Ref. 6611 (1957–1959): The First Superlative Chronometer

Ref. 6611 addressed mechanical issues with a new Calibre 1055. With 25 jewels and a 2.5Hz beat rate, it became the first Rolex to feature the “Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified” designation. Cosmetic changes included Alpha hands and pie-pan dials. The President bracelet also became standard—marking the beginning of the watch’s nickname.

Though not officially tied to any president initially, this model would later be associated with Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and others, cementing the Day-Date’s place in American political history. Rolex ads during Johnson’s presidency proudly called it the “President’s Watch.”

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Stainless Steel Day-Dates: The Mythical Unicorns

While Day-Dates are exclusively crafted in precious metals, five known examples of the Ref. 6611 exist in stainless steel—likely prototypes. One sold for CHF 50,600 in 2002; another fetched CHF 170,100 in 2022. These pieces are considered the Holy Grail by Rolex aficionados.

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Rolex Gold Day-Date Ref. 1803 (1959–1976): The Classic Era

This reference saw updates including a pie-pan dial and Calibre 1555, later upgraded to 1556. The movement introduced a higher beat rate of 19,800vph and added a hacking feature in 1972. These were Rolex’s first fully in-house movements for the Day-Date.

The bracelet was still hollow, and the acrylic crystal was retained. The 1803 is considered a gateway for collectors due to its affordability on the secondary market—often selling for under AED 30,000.

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Rolex Gold Day-Date Ref. 18038 (1977–1988): Modernisation Begins

The shift to Calibre 3055 brought the quickset date feature and a move to sapphire crystals. Though the day had to be manually advanced, the movement’s 4Hz beat rate and COSC certification made it a performance marvel. The Day-Date finally embraced modern standards.

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Quartz Revolution: Ref. 19018 & Calibre 5055 (1977–2004)

Amid the Quartz Crisis, Rolex introduced the Day-Date Oysterquartz with Calibre 5055. Highly accurate and COSC-certified, it came with an integrated bracelet and distinct angular case design. Though only 25,000 units were produced, the ref. 19018 remains a collector’s gem.

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Rolex Gold Day-Date Ref. 18238 (1988–2000): The Double Quickset Revolution

With Calibre 3155, the Ref. 18238 allowed both day and date to be set directly from the crown. The improved movement had 31 jewels and a thinner profile, with Rolex gradually tightening its chronometer standards over time.

Designs included champagne dials with vertical stripes, and the President bracelet was still the star of the show.

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Ref. 118238 (2000–2009): Heavier and Smarter

The case received broader lugs, and the bracelet links became solid gold, adding heft and luxury. Rolex also engraved ROLEX ROLEX ROLEX on the rehaut as a counterfeiting measure. Although the movement remained Calibre 3155, it was later regulated to Rolex’s in-house Superlative Chronometer standard: -2/+2 seconds per day.

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Day-Date II Ref. 218238 (2008–2015): Bigger, Bolder, Divisive

Rolex celebrated its centenary with a 41mm Day-Date II. Featuring Calibre 3156 with Parachrom hairspring and Paraflex shock absorbers, it maintained the classic DNA but had bulkier lugs and bezel, which polarised collectors. Ceramic bracelet inserts were introduced for longevity.

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Rolex Gold Day-Date 40 Ref. 228238 (2015–Present): Perfection Refined

The current flagship, Day-Date 40, brought elegance back. With refined proportions and slimmer lugs, it was the true successor to the classic 36mm variant. Calibre 3255 debuted with the Chronergy escapement, offering a 70-hour power reserve and unparalleled resistance to magnetism. The entire watch was a testament to Rolex’s relentless pursuit of precision.

Laser-etched dials, ceramic bracelet inserts, and the extended language offerings (now 26) for the day display made this a global watch for global leaders.

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The Presidential Legacy

From Lyndon B. Johnson to contemporary figures, the Rolex Day-Date has become shorthand for success and authority. JFK’s gifted watch from Marilyn Monroe, which resurfaced decades later, only adds to the mystique. While that particular piece was never worn and eventually discarded, it symbolised the Day-Date’s emotional and cultural weight.

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For Collectors and Investors

Despite being a precious metal timepiece, the Day-Date is surprisingly accessible. Clean examples of Ref. 1803 on bracelets can be found for around AED 44,000, offering a vintage aesthetic with timeless prestige. For those seeking investment-grade pieces, rare variants and stainless-steel anomalies can fetch sky-high prices at auctions.

The thrill of collecting Day-Dates lies in its vast history, design evolutions, and wide array of dial/bracelet configurations. Whether you’re looking for your first trophy timepiece or your next grail watch, the Day-Date offers something truly iconic.

Nike’s latest evolution of its flagship long-distance runner has arrived in a candy-coated colourway that’s as high-performance as it is high-fashion. The Nike AlphaFly 3 is already considered one of the brand’s most advanced running shoes ever created—and now, in its newest colour update for Summer/Fall 2025, it’s making a serious case for being the best running sneaker on the market right now. Certainly, it could be the best running shoe available to those who seek both style and function.

With Nike’s revamped running line seeing fresh attention thanks to the Pegasus Premium and the Vomero 18, the AlphaFly 3 is holding its own with the unmistakable confidence of a shoe built for podium finishes. Could it be your best choice for a running sneaker? Let’s break down what makes this particular release one of the most exciting runners of the season and why it could be the best sneaker for running you’ll find.

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🎨 Colourway: Cotton Candy Meets Carbon Tech

Nicknamed the “Cotton Candy” colourway by early sneakerheads, this version comes dressed in a Glacier Blue Flyknit upper that radiates a light, breathable energy. The contrasting black Swoosh grounds the shoe visually, while the Mint Foam midsole provides a pastel pop that’s pure summer, contributing to its appeal as the best running sneaker in terms of style.

What really turns heads, though, is the heel gradient that fades from Hyper Pink to Silt Red, echoing the streak of color you might imagine trailing behind an elite runner. Some might find it one of the best running sneakers when it comes to design aesthetics. Indeed, this detailed focus on design positions it among the best running shoes available.

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⚙️ Performance Specs: Built for Elite Runners

Nike didn’t just paint the AlphaFly 3 pretty—this shoe was built with precision. It includes all of the tech elements you’d expect from a top-tier performance runner:

• ZoomX foam midsole for ultra-light cushioning and maximum energy return
• Stacked forefoot Air Zoom pods to absorb impact and propel runners forward
• Full-length carbon fibre plate that stiffens the stride and increases forward propulsion
• Flyknit upper for lightweight containment and breathability
• Redesigned outsole for improved traction across long distances

This isn’t just a stylish sneaker. It’s a lab-tested race weapon and potentially the best sneaker for running long distances due to its advanced features, making it the top choice for the best running shoe enthusiasts.

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👟 How It Compares to Other Nike Runners

The AlphaFly 3 stands atop the Nike marathon racing hierarchy, built specifically with elite runners in mind. While the Pegasus Premium is a fantastic all-rounder and the Vomero 18 offers plush daily comfort, the AlphaFly 3 is all about race-day efficiency. Its features position it among the best running shoes available.

Compared to:

• Pegasus Premium: More responsive, but less aggressive than AlphaFly 3
• ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 3: Lighter, but AlphaFly is more cushioned for longer distances
• Vomero 18: Comfort-first, not built for speed

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💸 Price and Release Info

• Model: Nike AlphaFly 3 “Glacier Blue/Black/Mint Foam/Green Shock/Hyper Pink/Silt Red”
• Release: Expected Summer/Fall 2025 – Check NIKE’s Website for details
• Price: AED 1,050 ($285 USD)
• Availability: Women’s sizes confirmed for release; Men’s to be confirmed

Given its position as Nike’s “super shoe”, the price tag aligns with high-performance expectations. The AlphaFly 3 isn’t for casual jogs—it’s for runners chasing personal bests, and potentially the best running sneaker for those who mean business.

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📊 Quick Breakdown: Why It Matters

Feature	Details
Colourway	Glacier Blue/Mint Foam/Pink Gradient
Midsole	ZoomX Foam + Air Zoom pods
Plate	Full-length Carbon Fibre
Target Use	Marathons, Long-Distance Running
Price	AED 1,050 ($285)
Release Date	Summer/Fall 2025

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👀 Final Verdict: Best Running Sneaker of 2025?

The Nike AlphaFly 3 continues to prove why it’s the go-to super shoe for competitive runners—and this new summer colourway just might win over sneakerheads too. With elite-level tech, innovative design, and a colour palette that turns heads, it’s poised to be one of the most in-demand running sneakers of the year, potentially the best running shoe for 2025.

So, is it the best running sneaker out there right now? If performance and style are your priorities, it just might be the best running shoe for those who are serious.