Balestra’s second in its series of collections has us electrified!

Taking forward from its Reload collection, the Italian brand’s Upload collection takes the heat up by many notches.

October 13, 2022: The historical house of Balestra, previously led by Renato Balestra, and now by his daughters and granddaughter, has indeed taken a step towards a bold future, as is clear from their second collection.

Balestra’s Spring Summer 2023 collection titled ‘Upload’, takes forward from Reload to present the same bold woman, who has realized her strengths and is not afraid to play on them. 

Divided into Night, Day and Archive, the entire collection is a story of life. Born from a midsummer night's dream, the Night collection is about bodies illuminated by reflected light. “I wanted to design a print that was inspired by prisms. The Collection is light that spreads reflecting on whoever wears it,” says Sofia Bertolli Balestra, Creative Director.

Balestra captures the light to dress the night. Prismatic fabrics and the iconic blue Balestra sequins with water effect highlight the body’s curves creating a second skin – almost like a mermaid.

Featuring vibrant, multi-coloured imagery, Balestra’s Day collection is inspired by Giovanni Battista Piranesi’s prints. An architect and artist from the 18th century, Piranesi saw a bold vision for Rome, and translated that in his designs and visions. 

The Day collection is almost playful, yet sleek. It beckons with its simple construction and vivid imagination, with Piranesi's horses and Roman columns brought to life with colour. 

The Archive Collection is timeless. Showcasing its commitment to the herringbone pattern - first seen on a couture dress worn by Pat Cleveland for the Fall Winter 1986 show, it was captured and embroidered in Reload and this collection as well.

Jackets are streamlined. Shoulders are slashed, gowns have gaps – as has been a common feature in collections by brands such as Versace and Bally. Dresses are shapely and figure hugging as fashion moves towards slimmer silhouettes. 

Long jackets – our favourite – make this collection stand out! A jacket studded with hundreds of florals show elegance can be a strength too. An aerodynamic Balestra blue long cape wakes you up to a future owned by women. 

This collection certainly rears ahead from Reload, and we are excited to see what the third installment will bring.