CeeJay's Take on the 2013 FW Colors!

Hey Ceejay! I'm really happy to know you've been such a huge bal fan for so long, it's pretty rare where I'm from haha Anyways, I'm really just dying to purchase a ultraviolet city in rh but the people at my holt renfrew (montreal) keep saying they have no idea when the new f\w colors are arriving and that balenciaga has been very tight lipped this season :sad: could you give me some ball park to work with perhaps? Should I expect this colour to only come out in August or September??... Any info would be great :smile:

Generally speaking, Balenciaga does a "pre"-[season] - where they release certain colors and then their "main" collection. If I recall, the Bal boutique associates indicated that the Ultraviolet was part of the "main" collection. As such, I expect that they will start arriving in the boutiques (only) in August. Larger Balenciaga retailers will (likely) start getting them in later August and early September, with the rest of them likely getting them in September.
 
CeeJay - I went to NM today and saw the new colors IRL. I was not a fan of the Cigar Fonce leather as well. Very flat. They had a Velo with GGH and i didn't like the leather with GGH. It did look much better with the RH IMO.

The Beige Nougatine was very pretty as well as the new RED. Loved the new RED actually!
Rose Peche was lovely!
For some reason the yellow did not appeal to me. The only one I saw was with GGH and it was not a happy pairing. RH would be nice I think.

I saw the Cigar Fonce again .. when back in Boston (at Barneys/Copley), and have not revised my opinion .. definitely not my cup of tea. However, I do agree that it does look like a "moist Hershey bar" and if that's the color you want, then Cigar Fonce should do the trick for you. Yet again, Balenciaga provided a pic that made it look like there were some olive undertones .. nope!

Yes, the Rouge Cardinal is nice, just not my type of Red (and besides, I think of all the Balenciaga Red's .. I'm only missing 3 - '03 Red, '04 Red and '09 Poupre), so god knows .. I don't need more!! :graucho: [sure, sure ...]

If I were a neutral gal, the Beige Nougatine would be a must .. it's really a beautiful neutral and looked fab with the gold hardware. I totally agree on the Tournesol though, gold hardware on a already VERY (screaming) yellow bag .. doooiiinnnngggg! :wacko:

Rose Peche is also very pretty (especially with the Gold HW); I'm just not a pastel color lover (that's just me).
 
I saw the Cigar Fonce again .. when back in Boston (at Barneys/Copley), and have not revised my opinion .. definitely not my cup of tea. However, I do agree that it does look like a "moist Hershey bar" and if that's the color you want, then Cigar Fonce should do the trick for you. Yet again, Balenciaga provided a pic that made it look like there were some olive undertones .. nope!

Yes, the Rouge Cardinal is nice, just not my type of Red (and besides, I think of all the Balenciaga Red's .. I'm only missing 3 - '03 Red, '04 Red and '09 Poupre), so god knows .. I don't need more!! :graucho: [sure, sure ...]

If I were a neutral gal, the Beige Nougatine would be a must .. it's really a beautiful neutral and looked fab with the gold hardware. I totally agree on the Tournesol though, gold hardware on a already VERY (screaming) yellow bag .. doooiiinnnngggg! :wacko:

Rose Peche is also very pretty (especially with the Gold HW); I'm just not a pastel color lover (that's just me).



Hi Ceejay - I went to see Cigar Fonce at bal store. This was my second time to see it. I am not sure if I like it. I think it looks best with RH, but the color does have some red undertone. I will give this a pass.
 
Hi Ceejay - I went to see Cigar Fonce at bal store. This was my second time to see it. I am not sure if I like it. I think it looks best with RH, but the color does have some red undertone. I will give this a pass.

I'm beginning to think that this color really depends on the lighting. In most cases, it looks very deep brown .. and then in other cases, it appears to have an undertone. Either way, it's not on my list ...
 
Thank you CeeJay for your impressions!
I finally saw a few of the new colours in real life.
Cigar Foncé is actually very foncé :smile: a very deep brown not to my liking, I prefer lighter/more golden browns.

Rouge Cardinal is a nice point of red...close to Chinese laquer red, just a tad lighter. I didn't like it at all with GGH (got a "fake" impression but it could have been the lighting in the store), liked it much more with RH. Regrettably, RT is still my holy grail red, with Sang as a second choice.

Rose Peche looks good with GGH, too much Miss Bon Ton though to agree with my style :biggrin:
 
I'm beginning to think that this color really depends on the lighting. In most cases, it looks very deep brown .. and then in other cases, it appears to have an undertone. Either way, it's not on my list ...

I agree. I also think it may be the leather. I have seen it in a mini pompom and a work with mGGH and a part time in RH at one bal store. And mini pompom looks good whereas the other two don't. Then I saw the town in RH and a city with mGGH in another bal store. The town looks good whereas the city looks like plastics. Lighting in the two stores is different. But there is also something about the leather.
 
I also think that the leather and the color depend not only on the lighting but also on the model of each bag. And this is not for 2013 bags but last year's as well. You can never tell that is why I never order my bags anymore not knowing what I will eventually get. The leather can be dry or plastic like or whatever.
 
I also think that the leather and the color depend not only on the lighting but also on the model of each bag. And this is not for 2013 bags but last year's as well. You can never tell that is why I never order my bags anymore not knowing what I will eventually get. The leather can be dry or plastic like or whatever.
Hi Cat,

You are right. It is better to see the bag and color real life before getting it.

Did you get a chance to see the new colors?

Lara
 
Thanks Cee Jay.:tup:

Great review & it help. I was so confused before because I ordered my 13th Bal a Rouge Cardinal Day without knowing or seeing the colour with my own eyes. :faint::confused1::panic:
:ty:
 
Hi Cat,

You are right. It is better to see the bag and color real life before getting it.

Did you get a chance to see the new colors?

Lara

No, Lara unfortunately it seems we are the last to see the new colors here in Greece. If it weren't for the PF I wouldn't have know Balenciaga. I went to our shops here and the only things I saw in the windows were decorations of paper bags and only one Giant Black. Probably because of the crisis people are buying less Bals and I can understand that, but I wish they would allow Greece to order online which is not possible. We have a Boutique, I know the SA there and she would have informed me if we had any news. Also two shops of the same owner which as I told you have decorations. It really is a pity. I wish Balenciaga was owned by French people here, then maybe we would have a chance.
 
Hi Cee Jay! Will definitely consider an Ultraviolet city!! However I was wondering if you saw any black 2013 cities
yet and what you feel about them? I am new to Bal and since you seem like an expert, just wanted to know your thoughts on this year. Thanks!
 
As most of you probably know, I've been a Balenciaga collector since the beginning (2001 Le Dix), so I'm pretty familiar with all of the colors of the past. As such, took a side trip to the Balenciaga boutique in LA (Melrose) to get an "up-close-&-personal" viewing of the new 2013 F/W colors. Here is my assessment (mind you, the boutique is rather dark .. so, I had to keep on going outside :sunshine:to see the 'true' colors!!).
2013FWColorSwatch-BEST_zps3cfdd070.jpg


  • Noir - well, not much to say here .. the same as always
  • Anthracite - not a true grey IMO; seemed to have a bit of a blue/green undertone (albeit - not like the '07 Anthracite which had very definite blue/green undertones)
  • Beige Nougatine - nice, IMO .. more reminiscent of the '07 Oatmeal/Mastic (which was really pretty - especially with Gold HW), a more 'warm' beige than Sahara and Praline
  • Cigare Fonce - I had really big hopes for this color, thought that maybe .. Balenciaga would repeat the wonderful '07 Vert Fonce .. NOPE! I was very disappointed in this color .. it's very dark (fonce means 'dark'), and had a definite red/blue undertone to it. IMO .. it was really not very pretty, although Gold HW might make it look warmer. The bag I was shown had Silver HW .. uggh!
  • Rose Peche - very pretty (and mind you, I'm not a huge fan of the Rose/Pink/Peach hues). A really great mix .. not overly Peach or Rose .. I would say a 50/50 combination. Looks fabulous with the Gold HW!
  • Rouge Cardinal - yes, another one with high hopes .. especially since a lot of folks missed out on the Coquelicot. RED, of course, is my favorite color .. and I have amassed quite a few of the Balenciaga Red's throughout the years (which I still have). It's pretty, but it is not a 'clean' Red like Coquelicot .. it has just a slight pink undertone to it. It is also a lot less bright than Coquelicot (so in that case, it might be better for those that thought that the Coquelicot was a little too much of a "in your face" Red!).
  • Tournesol - LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this color!! Means Sunflower in French, and I would say that is a good definition of this color. Looked a lot like the '03 Mustard Yellow (which, in my opinion was not correctly named). This is a deeper yellow, with just a hint of a green hue (which made me happy since I loved the '04 Anis so much). If I were to only get 1 bag from this Year/Season, this would be my #1 pick.
  • Ultraviolet - also LOVED this color; a bright pop of Purple .. but had a definite red undertone (more like the '09 Raisin). Looks FABULOUS with the Gold HW!!! If I were to get a 2nd bag, this would be my 2nd choice!

Love your intel - thanks! Some of the new FW2013 bags are trickling in but have not seen Tournesol yet. Curry + Mangue bags are still left over on the shelf though. Do you think Tournesol is warmer, more golden than Mangue? I bought a Mangue Velo in Feb but returned her because I wasn't thrilled with dry thin leather vs price tag. Have not given up 100% though :graucho:
 
:wave: CeeJay - Hi there!
I just wondered if you'd heard of any 'limited editions' for fall?
I missed out on the holiday/hamilton black city :sad: and stupidly sold a lizard print black city :cry: - both of which I would dearly die for.....
I'm hoping there may be a different kind of black city coming out that you may have heard about??
 
Hi Mere!
No, I haven't heard of any special/limited editions as of yet .. but Balenciaga usually does some form of a holiday line. I just hope that they don't do it with the newly designed A.Wang "Le Dix" .. which, IMO .. is a TOTAL JOKE!