With a reputation for couture-worthy detailing and precision ready-to-wear pieces, Luciana Balderrama has become a delightful shape shifter

by tiffany press

Dress Luciana Balderrama
Ring Marianna Harutunian
Shoes Saint Laurent Glitter
Tribute Sandals,
available at Coco Pari in Red Bank / cocopari.com

Photographer Mark Oberlin
Stylist Dion “Bleu” Drake
Makeup Erin LeBre,
using skincare by Murad and makeup
by both Anastasia of Beverly Hills and Hourglass cosmetics
Hair René Cortez,
using Keratin Complex hair products
Model Rebecca D./Two Management

The fashion industry is experiencing a moment of redefinition—an era of smudged lines and chucked traditions. Male and female collections are shown together, streetwear is sold and presented fluidly with century-old European houses, and stereotypes of what sort of fashion should come from what countries are fading. There are a variety of reasons for this willingness to think beyond what is traditional, but the primary factor would have to be trailblazing talent in each genre. In the case of the Mexican fashion arena, the world is starting to pay closer attention to its strong points of view, such as those of Luciana Balderrama. Since the 2014 launch of her brand, the designer has developed a reputation for producing couture-worthy detailing and precision. As a result, she has quietly infiltrated red carpets globally with her work.

Balderrama, who studied design at The Art Institute of California, honed her skills with the renowned Cuban-American designer Robert Rodriguez. While her talents were polished on the West Coast of the U.S., it wasn’t until her return to Mexico that her unique vision gained traction among some of the most photographed women in that nation, and Balderrama went on to produce her first ready to wear collection for the fall/winter season of 2015.

There are hints of French fashion designer Thierry Mugler in the results, combined with Balderrama’s completely individual take on modern style. Equal parts soft and complex her work is a flirtation with femininity that doesn’t need to yell or announce itself. Her approach to evening and formal is, somewhat contrastingly, also a study in blatant glamour…unrestricted yet refined.

In just over a year, the namesake label has gained a committed and impassioned following. One look at her Instagram account, and it’s evident that the women who wear her clothing, famous or otherwise, are emerged in the aesthetic.

The brand is also expanding. A recently launched e-commerce site has made the designs available to all, and soon will be seen in brick-and-mortar retail worldwide. In the meantime, there is something fitting about the subtle, quiet storm of her rise. It’s special, romantic, and driven by passion alone; not unlike the clothing itself.

Luciana Balderrama
lucianabalderrama.com