Comparing leather by Year and Season (best, worst, characteristics)

What is THE Best Overall Year for Balenciaga Bags?

  • 2001

  • 2002

  • 2003

  • 2004

  • 2005

  • 2006

  • 2007

Results are only viewable after voting.

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#601
does it matter what year you buy a balenciaga bag from ?
is the leather of o7 gonna be the same as o8? or is thier another year that has better leather than both o7 and o8? i want a weekender with very VERY good, soft leather how can you tell ? and does anybody know where i can see the colors for 08 if even posible ? please let me know
thanks
 
#602
Hello,

1. Many would say that 2004 or 2005 have the best leathers hands down....but that the 2007 bags were pretty good. I have 2005 & 2007 and really like both!

2. How can you tell? You need to ask the seller lots of questions and ask for tons of pictures (if you're buying on ebay).

3. Yes, do a search here on the forum and you will find a bunch of threads that show pics of 2008 bags
 
#603
thanks so much for starting this thread i was about to do the exact same thing haha

i want one with the smoosiest leather around one that cant sit up on its own.

what year would that be?
 
#604
I have bags from '04, '05, '06 and '07. IMO, '05 is best, followed by '04, then '06 and last '07. However, maybe I like the leather on the '05 bags because I have used these the most, therefore the leather is "broken in". I would be over the moon happy if the '07 and the '08 bags get smooshy like the earlier years.
 
#606
2005 was the most consistent with thick, smooth & smooshy leather. 2007 is the best season since, but the consistency wasn't there. Some bags came out dry, thick & matte and also stiffer than usual. I don't know why this was, but it was only on a VERY small percentage of bags. Most (nearly all) 2007 bags have fabulous leather. I have felt the 2008 leather (swatch only) and it is a perfect lovechild of 2005 & 2007. Very good news!
 
#608
Read the clubhouse thread above to see pics of different leathers. There is an 05 only thread there too so you can see why 05 was often considered the best (and is by me, but this is my personal preference).
 
#609
Arguably (spelled wrong surely!) the best Balenciaga leather is from 2004 and 2005....a lot of hardcore 04 and 05 lovers really dont like the newest leathers. If your interested in the new 08 colors I know there have been some threads here in the Balenciaga forum, or course, that show pictures of some of the new colors!
 
#610
My best leathered Bbags would have to be 04 Seafoam followed by 06 Blue India..both are so thick and chewy..
Even my 05 Calcaire is less superior in comparo to these..
 
#611
I can't get over the silky softness of S/S '02 (w/ flat brass)...

Then there's slippery like it's wet S/S '03 (w/ long strap & raised pewter)...

Both seasons of 2004 are super squishy with crazy delicious leather (raised pewter w/ shorter strap & then raised brass)...

Can't complain about S/S '05 with its nicely distressed, thick and scrumptious leather (w/ raised brass)...

Then there's S/S '06 that breaks into a really nice fluffy soft leather, who'd guess it?

F/W '06 is thick and silky soft, chewy leather (w/ raised brass)...

Both seasons of '07 have a lot of variation between each bag, some are thick and more stiff which probably break into fluffy goodness and others are silky and distressed more along the '05 lines.

I can't wait to touch some '08 leather!

Somehow I love them all for what they are ;o)

If I had to pick a year...I think 2004 has my vote. But if I had to pick a season it would be S/S '02...seriously these bags rival heaven for their amazing softest. However, put blasphemy aside, throughout all the years there are individual bags that were crafted from the youngest, most supple goatskins that feel really good. I would love some of this leather in clothes or undergarments ;o)
 
#612
all my bags are o7 and all are incredibly soft and smooshy. however, i felt many at a neiman marcus store and VERY few were soft - most were dry and "hard"... so it's very inconsistent.

i ordered all my bags (minus one) from kim at balny. i'd highly rec her - i've never returned a bag she's sent to me. they all have amazing leather off the bat without even being broken in yet.

eta: time and time again i read that o5 have the "best" leather, but i have never seen or felt an o5 bag, so i cant compare.
 
#613
I agree with tooshies and lovely.

2003 has my favourite leather and the greatest colors, all muted and lovely!

tooshies said:
2003 hands down.

Most of my collection consists of pieces from 04FW and prior, and 03(both SS and FW) are my fav' by far.
The leather is soft, squishy, pillowy, and thick, and the colors are just simply divine. I love all the 03 colors, and I have a few.
But I wish I had bought all of the colors back in 03 when they were available at BalNY!!!!!!!!!:p
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lovelygarments said:
I have bags from every season now, and in comparing the leather on all of the bags, my 2003 mastic flat hobo is the absolute best leather.
mastic1.jpg


Young goat, old goat, it doesn't matter to me. This leather is unbelievable. I also have an 03 lilac first, and the leather is also great. Next, I would choose the 04 leather, and then the 05 leather. Twiggers, you are doing some kind of research - you are probably already a Balenciaga expert! :yes:
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